Rearrangement reactions of aziridinylbenzaldoximes

Reactions of 2,2-dimethylaziridine with benzohydroximoyl chlorides [ArC(Cl)NOH] give aziridinylbenzaldoximes 1. It has been found that the aziridine ring in these compounds undergoes ring opening in hydrogen chloride-dioxane solution to give (Z)-N-hydroxy-N′-(2-chloro-2-methylpropyl)benzenecarboximidamides [ArC(NHCH2CR1R2Cl)NOH, 4]. Treatment of 1 with hydrochloric acid followed by neutralization with aqueous sodium hydroxide gave 6,6-dimethyl-3-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazines 2. Reaction of 4 with sodium hydride in dioxane gave 5-isopropyl-3-aryl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-oxadiazoles 5. Reaction of the 4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-oxadiazoles 5 with N-chlorosuccinimide gave the heteroaromatic 1,2,4-oxadiazoles 6. It is suggested that reactions of 4 with sodium hydride in dioxane solution involve the conjugate base of 4 which undergoes a 1,2-hydride shift that is concerted with loss of chloride ion. In aqueous sodium hydroxide solution it is suggested that the conjugate base of 4 undergoes ionization of the chlorine atom followed by nucleophilic attack by the oximate anion.