A route to the synthesis of previously unknown α-heteroatom substituted nitrones

alpha-Heteroatom substituted nitrones have been synthesized for the first time by the reaction of alpha-lithiated cyclic aldonitrone 1,2,2.5,5-pentamethyl-3-imidazoline 3-oxide with HgCl2, (CH3)(3)SiCl, (C2H5)(3)GeCl, (n-C4H9)(3)SnBr and Ph2P(O)Cl. alpha-Chloronitrone was prepared for the first time by direct chlorination of alpha-lithiated aldonitrone using TsCl. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.