ChemInform Abstract: THERMAL ISOMERIZATION OF 5-METHOXY-3-ARYLISOXAZOLES TO METHYL 3-ARYL-2H-AZIRINE-2-CARBOXYLATES

The thermal isomerization of 5-methoxy-3-arylisoxazoles to methyl 3-aryl-2H-azirine-2-carboxylates was subjected to a kinetic study. A correlation between the isomerization rate constants and the σ+ constants of the substituents in the aromatic ring is observed. The enthalpies of formation of a number of isoxazoles and 2H-azirines were calculated. The effect of the nature of the substituents on the mutual isomerization of isoxazoles and azirines is discussed. The results make it possible to refute the approved and previously proposed diradical mechanism for the isomeric transformations and are in agreement with a nitrene mechanism for the formation of azirines.