Methanesulfonic acid Beckmann rearrangement

Several reagents for effecting the Beckmann rearrangement of the oxime (1) to give the lactam (2) have been evaluated with a view to the synthesis of a structural analog of the natural product, muscarine. The best results are obtained with a 10 1 mixture of methanesulfonic acid and phophorus pentoxide (equation 1). ... 

Methanesulfonates. The most common use of methanesulfonyl chloride is for the synthesis of sulfonate esters from alcohols. This can be readily accomplished by treatment of an alcohol with mesyl chloride in the presence of a base (usually Triethy-lamine or Pyridine). The methanesulfonates formed are functional equivalents of halides. As such they are frequently employed as intermediates for reactions such as displacements, eliminations, reductions, and rearrangements. Selective mesylation of a vicinal diol is a common method of preparation of epoxides." Alkynyl mesylates can be used for the synthesis of trimethylsilyl allenes. Oxime mesylates undergo a Beckmann rearrangement upon treatment with a Lewis acid. Aromatic mesylates have been used as substrates for nucleophilic aromatic substitution. Mesylates are more reactive than tosylates toward nucleophilic substitution, but less reactive toward solvolysis. 

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