Ring expansions, nitrogen

Photolysis of pyridazine IV-ethoxycarbonylimide results in the formation of the pyrrole derivative (56). The rearrangement is postulated to proceed via a diaziridine, followed by ring expansion to the corresponding 1,2,3-triazepine derivative and rearrangement to a triazabicycloheptadiene, from which finally a molecule of nitrogen is eliminated (Scheme 19) (80CPB2676). 

Intramolecular attack of the carbenes shown in Scheme 30a provides benzo[6]cyclo-hepta[(5 ]-furans and -thiophenes, but the nitrogen analogue (X = NH) yields 9,10-dihydro-acridine 81AJC1037). Photolysis of 2-biphenyl isocyanide (Scheme 30b) (72JOC3571) and thermolysis of 2-biphenylsulfonyl diazomethane (Scheme 30c) (72CC893) also result in ring expansion. 

Migration from nitrogen to carbon is observed also in aza-Cope rearrangement [76] Ring expansion occurs in thermal rearrangement of azindine denvauves [77] (equation 17)... 

The structures of chalcogen-nitrogen compounds are frequently unpredictable. For example, the reactions of heterocyclic systems often result in substantial reorganization of their structural frameworks, e.g. ring expansion or contraction. The formation of acyclic products from ring systems (or vice versa) is also observed. 

The lifetime of the diazomethane adduct is not known, but it must be of sufficient length that carbon can compete with nitrogen in participation as a nitrogen molecule leaves (24,109). The reaction of 66 with diazoethane yields 72, the normal adduct, and 73, the product from ring expansion. The structure of 73 was determined by hydrolysis to 2-methylcyclo-heptanone. In a similar reaction 74 yields 67 directly without isolation of 66. A similar ring expansion has been observed for cyclooctanone derivatives (16). 

Treatment of aziridinecarboxylic esters having an electron-withdrawing substituent at nitrogen with acetonitrile under BF3 catalysis leads to a smooth ring expansion reaction as depicted in Scheme 28 [31]. 

These reactions involve addition of the diazo ester to an adduct of the carbonyl compound and the Lewis acid. Elimination of nitrogen then triggers migration. Triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate also effects ring expansion of cyclic ketones by ethyl diazoacetate.83... 

A plausible mechanism for the ring expansion (Scheme 65) proceeds via an intermediate zwitterion A, resulting from Michael addition of the tertiary nitrogen to the alkyne. Cleavage of the C(l)-N bond occurs via formation of the six-membered transition state B in which a molecule of alcohol facilitates the Sn reaction. 

Expansion of the D-ring of steroids to produce azasteroids is very common. Usually, the nitrogen is inserted between C(17) and the C ring and this kind of transformation was very popular in the search for new active pharmaceutical ingredients. Schonecker and colleagues performed the D ring expansion of 380 in-route to 17-aza-D-homosteroids (equation 152). 

Several simple derivatives of azetine are known, although most of these bear substituents that help stabilize the compound by extending the conjugation of the endocyclic double bond. For example, 2-phenylazetine is obtained by the thermolysis of 1-azido-l-phenylcyclopropane nitrogen is lost from the azide group and a nitrene may be formed, prior to ring expansion (Scheme 8.2). 

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