Product 412 Curtius rearrangement

The preparation and properties of these tertiary aminimides, as weU as suggested uses as adhesives (qv), antistatic agents (qv), photographic products, surface coatings, and pharmaceuticals, have been reviewed (76). Thermolysis of aminimides causes N—N bond mpture foUowed by a Curtius rearrangement of the transient nitrene (17) intermediate to the corresponding isocyanate ... 

The Curtius rearrangement is a useful method for the preparation of isocyanates as well as of products derived thereof. The substituent R can be alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, a heterocyclic or unsaturated group most functional groups do not interfere. 

The actual product of the reaction is thus the ketene, which then reacts with water (15-3), an alcohol (15-5), or ammonia or an amine (15-8). Particularly stable ketenes (e.g., Ph2C=C=0) have been isolated and others have been trapped in other ways (e.g., as P-lactams, 16-64). The purpose of the catalyst is not well understood, though many suggestions have been made. This mechanism is strictly analogous to that of the Curtius rearrangement (18-14). Although the mechanism as shown above involves a free carbene and there is much evidence to support this, it is also possible that at least in some cases the two steps are concerted and a free carbene is absent. 

The pyrido[3, 4 4,5]furo[3,2-A]indole 24 can be prepared by Curtius rearrangement of 3-[5-(2-nitrophenyl)-2-furyl]-propenoic azide 25, followed by reduction of the nitrophenyl functionality of the product 26, chlorination of the tetracyclic product (PCI5), then reduction (Zn/AcOH) to give the parent compound 24 <1987CCC192> (Scheme 7). 

Curtius rearrangement is a well-known reaction of azides to form isocyanates [37]. It is taken into account in this overview, since in the example the azides are produced and reacted with a nucleophile in situ (in one flow), and thus the final product is composed from three starting components. 

In contrast to the somewhat limited synthetic utility of nitrenes, there is an important group of reactions in which migration occurs to electron-deficient nitrogen. One of the most useful of these reactions is the Curtius rearrangement 16 This reaction has the same relationship to acylnitrene intermediates that the Wolff rearrangement does to acylcar-benes. The initial product is an isocyanate, which can be isolated or trapped by a nucleophilic solvent. 

In reactions with aliphatic azides gas evolution did not usually begin until approximately 5 min had elapsed from the time of initial addition. In contrast, immediate gas evolution was observed after the initial addition of azido nitriles and phenoxy azides to the nitrosonium salt. Total gas evolution was measured on the closed system by water displacement from a calibrated gas buret. Total gas evolution reflected the total amount of reacted azide and the different pathways for the production of gaseous products (nitrosative decomposition and Curtius rearrangement). The rate of production of gaseous products slowed markedly after the evolution of 40-60 mL (1-2 mmol of reacted azide) with the exception of nitrosative reactions wi th 4-azidobutanonitrilc and 5-azidopentanonitrile, gas evolution terminated when approximately 50 % of the azide had reacted. Gas evolution in the nitrosative reactions of aliphatic azides continued to completion as a result of protonic decomposition. Reactions were usually complete within 2 h. 

Heteroaromatic vinyl isocyanates have been used as a source of bicyclic pyridones. In the preparation of the l-methylpyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridone 153 the isocyanate 152b, obtained by Curtius rearrangement of the corresponding acid azide 152a, was heated at 220°C in diphenyl ether to furnish the product in good yield.143,144 Several 2-alkyl derivatives were also prepared.144... 

The Curtius Rearrangement is the thermal decomposition of carboxylic azides to produce an isocyanate. These intermediates may be isolated, or their corresponding reaction or hydrolysis products may be obtained. 

A versatile route to p-substituted tryptophan esters was developed beginning with condensation of an indole, an aldehyde and Meldrum s acid. The condensation products can be solvolyzed to half esters and then subjected to Curtius rearrangement. <95TL2057>... 

DPPA 245 in the presence of ferf-butanol to afford the target product 91 via a Curtius rearrangement (52% yield). 

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