Tertiary iV-oxide

Conversion of lactam 36 into racemic iV -benzoylmeroquinene and its esters (42) was accomplished by two routes. Opening of the lactam ring with boiling ethanolic hydrogen chloride led to the amino ester 43 (R = CaHe X = NHg) which was transformed by pyrolysis of the corresponding tertiary iV -oxide into racemic iV-benzoylmeroquinene ethyl ester [42 R = C2H5 mp 67-68°]. 

Treatment of a tertiary iV-oxide with an activating agent such as acetic anltydride, resulting in rearrangement where an A/,A/ -disubstituted acetamide and an aldehyde are generated. 

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