Asymmetric 1,3-dipolar reactions of 3-sulfinylfuran-2(5H)-ones with 11H-dibenzo[b,e]azepine 5-oxide. Synthesis of pyrroloazepines via isoxazoloazepines

The addition of morphanthridine N-oxide (1) to homochiral 3-p-tolylsulfinylfuran-2(5H)-ones (2a and 2b) under mild conditions affords furoisoxazoloazepines (3a and 3b) in high yields and with complete regioselectivity. The π-facial and endo-selectivities are also complete from 2a, which yields anti-3a-endo as the only diastereoisomer, whereas cycloreversion determines that the anti-3b-endo adduct can be almost exclusively isolated from 2b. Proper manipulation of the furoisoxazoloazepines allows the synthesis of the optically pure isoxazoloazepines and pyrroloazepines.