Isomerization of Bicyclic Hydrazine Monoesters to N-Amino-2-pyridone Esters, Precursors to Bicyclic "Isosydnones"
Selective aqueous alkaline hydrolysis of the diazetidine diesters 4 gives the basic monoesters 1 which isomerize quantitatively in trifluoroacetic acid or by refluxing with sodium methoxide in dioxane to the N-aminopyridone esters 2. The bridged pyridazine ester 5a can also be selectively hydrolyzed to the presumed intermediate 10, hydrolysis being accompanied by immediate isomerization to 2a. A common mechanistic pattern is proposed for these isomerizations.Heating of 2 causes loss of alcohol to give the mesoionic "isosydnone" 3, a fairly stable ring system slowly opened by ethanol to 2b and by concentrated alkali to the N-aminopyridone 16a. Oxidation of 16a with lead tetraacetate gives the pyridone 18a.