3-alkyl-4,5-disubstituted-2 -oxazolones

The reaction of aliphatic and aromatic ketone oximes 97 with a dialkyl carbonate 98 in the presence of K2CO3 at 180-190 °C yields 3-alkyl-4,5-disubstituted-2(3//)-oxazolones 104 in 22-48% yields. Mechanistically, it is proposed that N-alkylation of the initially formed oxime O-carbonate 99 yields 100, which affords the enamine 101 in the presence of base. A [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement ensues to produce 102, which then cyclizes to 104. In cases where 97 contains two methylene groups in proximity to the C=N bond, one of which is benzylic, the above reaction sequence is regioselective for the benzylic methylene group (Fig. 5.25 Table 5.6, Fig. 5.26). ... 

TABLE 5.6. 3-ALKYL-4,5-DISUBSTITUTED-2(3H)-OXAZOLONES EROM OXIMES AND DIAEKYECARBONATES"... 

Alkylation of saturated 5(4//)-oxazolones at C-4 is a well-known reaction that can be achieved under a wide variety of conditions. Numerous articles have described this reaction as a means to prepare 4,4-dialkyl-5(477)-oxazolones 147 that are valuable intermediates to prepare ot,ot-disubstituted a-amino acids. For instance,2-phenyl-5(4//)-oxazolone 146 readily obtained from hippuric acid and A,A -dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), is alkylated at C-4 with allyl, benzyl, or phenacyl halides if the reaction is conducted in dipolar aprotic solvents in the presence of weak bases. Hydrolysis of the resulting 5(477)-oxazolones leads to a,a-dialkylglycines 148 (Scheme 7.43). 

Alkylation of 2,4-disubstituted-5(477)-oxazolones can be conveniently performed via phase-transfer catalysis. For example, the substrate and an alkyl halide are dissolved in an organic solvent and stirred with an aqueous sodium carbonate solution containing tetrabutylammonium bromide as a phase-transfer catalyst. 4,4-(Diarylmethyl)-2-phenyl-5(4/f)-oxazolones can be prepared in one-step by dialkylation of 146 using magnesium methyl carbonate and the corresponding... 

Racemization is not encountered when 4-unsubstituted-5(477)-oxazolones or 4,4-disubstituted-5(477)-oxazolones are used as reagents. Indeed, 4-unsubstituted-5(47/)-oxazolones function as glycine synthons in the synthesis of A-acylglycyl-a-amino acids. For example, aminolysis of 2-(trifluoromethyl)-5(47/)-oxazolone with a-methylphenylalanine affords A-(trifluoroacetyl)glycyl-a-methylphenylalanine. 4,4-Disubstituted-5(4//)-oxazolones, readily available by alkylation of the monosubstituted derivatives, are very useful intermediates in the synthesis of peptides that incorporate ot,ot-disubstituted amino acids. As an example, 4-(aryl-methyl)-2-phenyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)-5(4//)-oxazolones 260 are key intermediates... 

Ammomethylene)-5(4/i/)-oxazolones 412 have also been used as starting materials to prepare unsaturated oxazolones. Alkylation of the exocyclic nitrogen gives 4-(A,A-disubstituted-l-aminoalkylidene)-5(4/f)-oxazolones 413 that are intermediates for peptides, pharmaceuticals and pesticides (Scheme 7.133). Heterocyclic rings such benzimidazole or benzotriazole have been prepared as well (Scheme 7.134). ... 

Synthesis oe Heterocyclic Compounds. In some cases, dehydroamino acids obtained from unsaturated 5(477)-oxazolones have been used as intermediates to prepare other heterocyclic compounds. For example, reaction of 2-benzoylamino-3-substituted-2-alkenoic acids 485 with alkyl or arylisothiocyanates affords 4-aryl-methylene-l,2-disubstituted-5-oxo-4,5-dihydroimidazoles 486 (Scheme 7.155). ... 

H)-OxazoIones (78) are unstable with respect to the 4//-isomers (79) however, the 2-trifluoromethyl derivatives are unique in that the 2//-forms (78 R1 = CF3) are favoured (62LA(658)128). This was evident from the NMR spectra of numerous derivatives containing phenyl or alkyl groups at C(4) (64CB2023). While 2,2-disubstituted 5(2//)-oxazolones (80) have a fixed structure, the 2-methylene derivatives, such as 2-benzylidene-4-methyl-5(2H)-oxazolone (81), are in potential tautomeric equilibrium with 5(4//)-oxazolones, e.g. (82). However, compound (81) exists entirely in this form, no doubt because it is stabilized by conjugation of the phenyl group with the exocyclic double bond. 

To functionalize the C5 position, Williams and Fu developed a 2-phenylsulfonyl substituted oxazole. The C5 position of this oxazole can be cleanly deprotonated with LDA and trapped with either NIS or NBS to form the 5-iodo- or 5-bromo-2-phenylsulfonyloxazole in good yield. The same report details that the 2-phenylsulfonyl group can subsequently be displaced with alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl lithium reagents to form 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles efficiently. A triflate at the C5 position can be prepared from the corresponding oxazolone however, the oxazolone decomposes at room temperature, and Kelly reported that attempted Stille coupling with C5 triflates failed due to decomposition of the triflate. ... 

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