5-Hydroxy-3-phenyl-5-vinyl-2-isoxazoline and 3-phenyl-5-vinylisoxazole: synthesis and reactivity

5-Hydroxy-3-phenyl-5-vinyl-2-isoxazoline has been synthesized by reacting benzonitrile oxide with the enolate ion of methyl vinyl ketone. From 5-hydroxy-5-vinyl-2-isoxazoline, 5-vinylisoxazole was then quantitatively obtained by dehydration–aromatization under acidic conditions. Similar results, though not quantitative, were also found by treatment in 2-propanol under basic conditions (i-PrOH/H2O, Na2CO3, reflux). In contrast to 2-propanol, reactions performed in methanol (and, in part, those carried out in ethanol) revealed a more complex behaviour, the nucleophilic addition of ROH onto the vinyl group being mainly observed. Nucleophilic addition was also found with alkyllithiums. The mechanism of the nucleophilic addition is discussed. Epoxidation and further reaction with benzonitrile oxide of both 3-hydroxy-5-phenyl-5-vinyl-2-isoxazoline and 3-phenyl-5-vinylisoxazole are also described.