Cyclopropanation of benzylidenemalononitrile with dialkoxycarbenes and free radical rearrangement of the cyclopropanes

Thermolysis of 2-cinnamyloxy-2-methoxy-5,5-dimethyl-Δ3-1,3,4-oxadiazoline (1a) and the analogous 2-benzyloxy-2-methoxy compound (1b) at 110°C, in benzene containing benzylidenemalononitrile, afforded products of apparent regiospecific addition of methoxycarbonyl and cinnamyl (or benzyl) radicals to the double bond. When the thermolysis of 1a was run with added TEMPO, methoxycarbonyl and cinnamyl radicals were captured. Thermolysis of the 2,2-dibenzyloxy analogue (1c) in the presence of benzylidenemalononitrile gave an adduct that is formally the product of addition of benzyloxycarbonyl and benzyl radicals to the double bond. In this case, a radical addition mechanism could be ruled out, because the rate constant for decarboxylation of benzyloxycarbonyl radicals is very large. A mechanism that fits all of the results is predominant cyclopropanation of benzylidenemalononitrile by the dialkoxycarbenes derived from the oxadiazolines, in competition with fragmentation of the carbenes to radical pairs. The cyclopropanes so formed then undergo homolytic ring-opening to the appropriate diradicals. Subsequent β-scission of the diradicals to afford radical pairs, and coupling of those pairs, gives the final products. Thus, both carbene and radical chemistry are involved in the overall processes.Key words: cyclopropane, dialkoxycarbene, β-scission, oxadiazoline, radical.