A Novel Base-Solvent Controlled Chemoselective Azide Attack on an Ester Group versus Keto in Alkyl 3-Substituted 3-Oxopropanoates: Mechanistic Insights
During the exploration of arylazides reactions with alkyl 3- substituted-3-oxopropanoates under the Dimroth reaction conditions (MeONa-MeOH) azide attack on ester group versus keto was found out in few examples yielding stable 3-alkyl-2- diazo-3-oxo-N-(aryl)propanamides instead of obvious target 1- aryl-5-alkyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxylic acids. The formation of diazocompounds was observed in case of 3-(4,4-diethoxymethyl)-, isopropyl-, cyclopropyl-3-oxopropanoate in the reaction with arylazides, especially, those containing electro-withdrawing substituents. Influence of the base-solvent system on diazo products yields was investigated and mechanistic insights of Dimroth reaction were discussed.