Chemistry Letters, Vol.41, No.4, 400-402, 2012
Unprecedented Temperature-dependent Formation of 3-and 7-Methyl-3H-azepine Derivatives by the Reaction of o-Nitrotoluene with Tributylphosphine in Nucleophilic Media
The reaction of o-methylphenylnitrene in the presence of alcohol and amine was expected to give isomeric pairs of 3- and 7-methyl-3H-azepine derivatives. The formation ratio between these isomers was found to be obviously influenced by reaction temperature, that is, reaction at 150 degrees C gave 7-methyl-3H-azepine derivative, however, it became minor under 70 degrees C in both media. The ratio between 3- and 7-methyl derivatives is explained by a scheme of kinetic- and thermodynamic-controlled product distribution from o-methylphenylnitrene to 3- and 7-methyldehydroazepine intermediates which are trapped by nucleophilic media to give 3- and 7-methyl-3H-azepine derivatives.