Rh2(OAc)4-catalyzed reaction of 2-(2-carbonylvinyl)-3-phenyl-2H-azirines with diazo esters proceeds through an intermediate generation of azirinium ylide suffering a nonstereoselective ring opening to form (3Z)- and (3E)-2-azahexa-1,3,5-trienes. The former depending on configuration of the C5=C6 bond may undergo cyclization either in derivative of 2,3-dihydropyridine, or in pyrrolium ylide that isomerizes into a derivative of 1H-pyrrole. According to DFT calculation, the preferred formation of pyrroles at increasing volume of Z-substituent at the atom C6 and of substituents at the atom C1 of 2-azahexatriene occurs due to the destabilization of more sterically loaded transition states of 1,6-cyclization.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1214-1221
Number of pages8
JournalRussian Journal of Organic Chemistry
Volume53
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

    Scopus subject areas

  • Organic Chemistry

ID: 13392662