Fe(II)-Catalyzed Isomerization of 5-Chloroisoxazoles to 2 H -Azirine-2-carbonyl Chlorides as a Key Stage in the Synthesis of Pyrazole-Nitrogen Heterocycle Dyads

Abstract

2-(1H-Pyrazol-1-ylcarbonyl)-2H-azirines were synthesized by in situ trapping of 2H-azirine-2-carbonyl chlorides, generated by Fe(II)-catalyzed isomerization of 5-chloroisoxazoles, with pyrazoles. According to DFT calculations, the selectivity of nucleophilic substitution at the carbonyl group of 2H-azirine-2-carbonyl chloride by a pyrazole nucleophile, which is a mixture of two tautomers, is controlled by thermodynamic factors. 2-(1H-Pyrazol-1-ylcarbonyl)-2H-azirines are excellent precursors for the preparation of two other pyrazole-nitrogen heterocycle dyads: 5-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)oxazoles by photolysis and 1-(1H-pyrrol-2-ylcarbonyl)-1H-pyrazoles by a Ni(II)-catalyzed reaction with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. 5-(1H-Pyrazol-1-yl)oxazoles show strong emission in acetonitrile at 360-410 nm with high quantum yields.