Tandem nitrosation/cycloaddition of heterocyclic enamines using nitrolic acids

The reaction of alkylidenepyrrolidines with nitrolic acids gives rise to the formation of novel 3,7a-disubstituted (1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-5,6,7,7a-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-d][1,2,4]oxadiazoles. A plausible mechanism for this reaction is proposed, which features nitrosation of the enamine by the nitrous acid that is liberated from the nitrolic acid.