A novel method for preparing 4-membered azetidine nitrones, starting from isolable
nitrile oxides, has been developed. The reaction of diazomethane with the bulky nitrile
oxides proceeds via double nucleophilic incorporation of the methylene moiety to produce
4-membered cyclic nitrones in yields up to 74%. A reaction pathway involving the formation
of a strained azirine N-oxide intermediate is discussed.
Keywords
Nitrile oxide - Diazomethane - Double methylene incorporation - Azetidine nitrone
- Azirine
N-oxide