Chlorosulfonyl isocyanate reactions with N-(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-enes. Regiospecific two-atom insertion pathways.

Addition of the uniparticulate electrophile chlorosulfonyl isocyanate to the nitrogen atom of N-(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-enes 1 is followed by ring cleavage and recombination. The parent 4-methyl, 5-methyl, 5-bromo, and 5-phenyl azabicycles 1a−f afforded novel 2,4-diaza-3-oxo-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-enes 10a−f. The 3-endo-phenyl azabicycle 1g rearranged to a 6-styryl-1,3-diaza-2-oxo-cyclohex-4-ene 12.