Imino 1,2-Wittig rearrangement of hydroximates and its application to synthesis of cytoxazone

The imino 1,2-Wittig rearrangement of hydroximates provides a novel method for the construction of 2-hydroxyoxime ethers. Upon treatment with LDA, Z-hydroximates smoothly underwent stereoselective rearrangement to give Z-2-hydroxyoxime ethers in good yield, which were converted into amino alcohols. On the other hand, the rearrangement of E-hydroximates gave a mixture of E- and Z-2-hydroxyoxime ethers. This method was successfully applied to a practical synthesis of cytoxazone.