Singlet nitrenes, reactions

The photochemical reaction of azide-functionalized tetrazole derivatives such as 38 leads to the formation of the 5-5 bicyclic ring system 40 (Scheme 5) in very moderate yields <1999JHC863>. This reaction is believed to proceed via the singlet nitrene intermediate 39. Attack at the aromatic substituent in ortho position leads to product 40 <1974JOG2546> by subsequent cyclization. This intermediate is deprotonated during the workup conditions to the mesoionic tricyclic derivative 41. 

Laser flash photolysis of a series of fluorinated aryl azides produces the transient spectra of the corresponding singlet nitrenes. ° With the exception of singlet o-fiuorophenylnitrene (39s), the rate of decay of the singlet nitrene was equal to the rate of formation of the reaction products, for example, didehydroazepines and triplet nitrenes. Values of fejsc and the Arrhenius parameters for azirine formation are summarized in Table 11.5. 

The protonation of photochemically generated singlet nitrenes in aqueous solution has recently been used to study a wide range of nitrenium ions." Data on the rate constants for reaction of 75g, 75n, and many other nitrenium... 

The comparison of thiophene with thioethers on the one hand and with enol thioethers on the other, in regard to its behaviour towards conventional electrophiles, has been made in Section 3.02.2.3. Attack on carbon is the predominant mode of reaction (Section 3.14.2.4) reaction at sulfur is relatively rare (Section 3.14.2.5). Carbenes are known to act as electrophiles attack at both carbon and sulfur of thiophene has been reported. The carbene generated from diazomalonic ester by rhodium(II) catalysis attacks the sulfur atom of thiophene, resulting in an ylide. It has also been shown that the carbenoid species derived by thermolysis of such an ylide functions as an electrophile, attacking the a-carbon of a second molecule of thiophene (Section 3.14.2.9). Singlet nitrene is electrophilic. However, in contrast to carbenes, it invariably attacks only the carbon atom (Section 3.14.2.9). 

Several alternatives are open to the reactive nitrene species residing adjacent to the nucleus. The singlet nitrene can attack a suitable proximate, electron-rich centre or it may insert in the thiophene double bond to form an azirine which can subsequently undergo further transformations. A third alternative is for the singlet to cross over to the triplet state and then undergo the reactions characteristic of this biradical species. 

Another reaction of such azides attached to the benzene part of benzo[7>]thiophene is the formation of benzoxazoles when heated in a mixture of carboxylic acid and PPA. The mechanism has been discussed in detail (79AG(E)900) and involves insertion of the singlet nitrene into the anhydride, followed by migration of the acyloxy group to the ortho position, and cyclization. The 5- and 6-azides thus given angularly fused benzoxazoles (Scheme 147). 

---