Dioxime oxalates; new iminyl radical precursors for syntheses of N-heterocycles

Symmetrical and unsymmetrical dioxime oxalates were prepared by treatment of oximes with oxalyl chloride. UV photolysis of these precursors was found to be an atom-efficient way of generating iminyl radicals. The process was most efficient for dioxime oxalates having aryl substituents attached to their Cdouble bond; length as m-dashN bonds. The method was useful for EPR spectroscopic study of iminyl and iminoxyl radicals. Photolyses in toluene solution, of dioxime oxalates containing alkenyl acceptor groups, yielded unsaturated iminyl radicals that ring closed to afford 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrroles in good yields. Dioxime oxalates with biphenyl substituents also released iminyl radicals that ring closed onto the aromatic acceptor groups and, in acetonitrile solution, this approach provided a useful and atom-efficient method of making substituted phenanthridines.