Transition metal catalyzed ring opening reactions of 2-phenyl-3-vinyl substituted 2H-azirines

Treatment of 2-phenyl-3-vinyl-substituted 2H-azirines with Grubbs' catalyst induces a clean rearrangement and affords products derived from carbon-nitrogen bond cleavage of the 2H-azirine ring. However, when the reaction was carried Out using Wilkinson's catalyst in an alcoholic solvent, the only product obtained in high yield corresponded to an alpha,beta-tinsaturated oxime. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.