RING-opening reactions of 2-phenyl-1'H,5H-spiro-[oxazole-4,2'-quinoxalin]- 3'(4'H)-ones?

Article abstract of DOI:10.3987/COM-12-S(N)25

Several simple quinoxaline derivatives were prepared by ring-opening reactions of 2-phenyl-1'H,5H-spiro[oxazole-4,2'-quinoxalin]-3'(4'H)-one and its N-alkyl derivatives under various reaction conditions.

Full text of DOI:10.3987/COM-12-S(N)25

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 1, 2012
719
HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 1, 2012, pp. 719 - 725. © 2012 The Japan Institute of Heterocyclic Chemistry
Received, 1st June, 2012, Accepted, 13th July, 2012, Published online, 18th July, 2012
DOI: 10.3987/COM-12-S(N)25
RING-OPENING
REACTIONS
OF
2-PHENYL-1’H,5H-SPIRO-
[OXAZOLE-4,2’-QUINOXALIN]-3’(4’H)-ONES
Irena Mušič and Bojan Verček*
Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 5, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. E-mail: bojan.vercek@fkkt.uni-lj.si
Abstract – Several simple quinoxaline derivatives were prepared by ring-opening
reactions of 2-phenyl-1’H,5H-spiro[oxazole-4,2’-quinoxalin]-3’(4’H)-one and its
N-alkyl derivatives under various reaction conditions.
Quinoxaline is an important heterocyclic system which constitutes the scaffold of many biologically
active compounds.1 Therefore, the development of novel approaches to quinoxalines still remains an
important task in heterocyclic synthesis. The most common synthetic routes to quinoxaline are the
condensation reactions between o-phenylenediamines and various 1,2-bifunctional electrophiles such as,
for example, diketones, ketoesters, haloketones, and haloesters.2 As part of our studies on the synthesis of
heterocyclic compounds utilizing simple amino acid derivatives,3 we described the synthesis of several
1’H,5H-spiro[oxazole-4,2’-quinoxalin]-3’(4’H)-ones and their alkylation which resulted in the
introduction of an alkyl group or a substituted alkyl group on the lactam nitrogen atom.3a,3h Since the
oxazoline system can undergo ring-opening reactions,4 our further research focused on reactions leading
towards the formation of simple quinoxaline derivatives starting from 2-phenyl-1’H,5H-
spiro[oxazole-4,2’-quinoxalin]-3’(4’H)-ones (1-4) as shown in Scheme 1.
First, we investigated the reactions of 2-phenyl-1’H,5H-spiro[oxazole-4,2’-quinoxalin]-3’(4’H)-one (1).
The most often isolated product of these reactions was 3-methylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (5). It was formed
by refluxing compound 1 in hydrochloric acid as well as by treatment of 1 with hot hydrazine hydrate.
Interestingly, compound 5 was also formed in an unsuccessful attempt of the N-methylation of 1 with
methyl iodide in methanol in an autoclave at 80 °C, and in an unsuccessful attempt of the exchange of the
oxo with thioxo group in the pyrazinone part of 1 using phosphorus pentasulfide in hot xylene.
 Dedicated to Professor Dr. Ei-ichi Negishi on the occasion of his 77th birthday

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 1, 2012
When 1 was heated with hydrazine hydrate, sodium ethoxide or free hydroxylamine in ethanol,
3-(hydroxymethyl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (6) was formed. On the other hand, heating 1 in concentrated
sulphuric acid gave its O-benzoyl derivative, 3-(benzoyloxymethyl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (7). Catalytic
hydrogenation of 1 with H2 in the presence of Pd/C resulted in the formation of 3,4-dihydro-3-methyl-
quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (8). Treatment of 1 with hot phosphorus oxychloride gave 2-chloro-3-(chloro-
methyl)quinoxaline (9).
H
N
H
N
O
O
N
CH2OH
N
CH2OBz
6
7 (30%)
v (52%) or vi (66%)
or vii (67%)
viii
H
N
O
H
N
H
N
O
ix
O
N
H
Me
i (26%) or ii (48%)
or iii (38%) or iv (52%)
N
H
O
N
Me
8 (52%)
N
1
5
Ph
x
N
N
Cl
R
CH2Cl
N
O
9 (62%)
xi
N
H
O
R
N
N
R=Me,Et
O
Ph
OH
2, R=Me
3, R=Et
xii
R=CH2CH2OH
4, R=CH2CH2OH
N
Me
N
O
10, R=Me (41%)
11, R=Et (39%)
R=Me
xiii
+
N
Me
12 (19%)
Me
Me
N
N
O
O
N
CH2Cl
N
CH2OAc
13 (67%)
14 (7%)
.
Scheme 1. Reagents and conditions: i) 18% HCl, reflux; ii) NH2NH2 H2O, 110 °C; iii) MeI, MeOH,
.
autoclave, 80 °C; iv) P4S10, xylene, reflux; v) NH2NH2 H2O, EtOH, reflux; vi) NaOEt, EtOH, reflux; vii)
NH2OH.HCl, NaOEt, EtOH, reflux; viii) conc. H2SO4, 80-90 °C; ix) H2, Pd/C, EtOH, rt; x) POCl3,
8085 °C; xi) 18% HCl, EtOH, reflux; xii) PPA, 90 °C; xiii) AcCl, CH2Cl2, reflux.
Other reactions were carried out with spiro compounds 2-4. Refluxing of 4’-methyl-2-phenyl-
1’H,5H-spiro[oxazole-4,2’-quinoxalin]-3’(4’H)-one (2) in a mixture of aqueous HCl and ethanol gave

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 1, 2012
721
1,3-dimethylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (10). Under similar reaction conditions, 1-ethyl-3-methyl-
quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (11) was formed from 4’-ethyl-2-phenyl-1’H,5H-spiro[oxazole-4,2’-quinoxalin]-
3’(4’H)-one (3). Furthermore, an unsuccessful attempt of the dehydration reaction of the N-hydroxyethyl
derivative 4 using hot polyphosphoric acid (PPA) led to the formation of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methyl-
quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (12). Finally, the reaction between 2 and acetyl chloride in hot dichloromethane
gave a mixture of 3-(chloromethyl)-1-methylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (13) and 3-(acetyloxymethyl)-1-
methylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (14).
In summary, we have demonstrated that several quinoxaline derivatives can be produced by ring-opening
reactions of 2-phenyl-1’H,5H-spiro[oxazole-4,2’-quinoxalin]-3’(4’H)-ones 1-4. Although the formation
of simple quinoxalines was achieved under various reaction conditions, the reactions usually gave
complex mixtures of products and moderate yields of mostly known quinoxalines.
EXPERIMENTAL
Melting points were determined on a Kofler micro hot stage. NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker
AVANCE DPX-300 spectrometer (300 MHz for 1H) in DMSO-d6 with TMS as an internal standard. MS
spectra were obtained on a VG-Analytical AutoSpec Q instrument. Elemental analyses were performed
on a Perkin-Elmer CHN Analyzer 2400. TLC was carried out on Fluka silica gel TLC-cards. Radial
chromatography was performed on Merck Kieselgel PF254 silica gel. Starting compounds 1-4 were
prepared as described in the literature.3a,3h Side products, benzamide and benzamidoxime,5 were identified
by comparison with authentic samples. All other compounds were used without purification as obtained
from commercial sources.
3-Methylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (5). a) A mixture of 1 (320 mg, 1.15 mmol) and aqueous HCl (18%, 4
mL) was heated under reflux for 3.5 h. After cooling and addition of cold water (4 mL), the precipitated
benzoic acid was filtered off and washed with water (128 mg, 91%). The filtrate was neutralized with
NaHCO3 and extracted with AcOEt (3x20 mL). After drying with Na2SO4, AcOEt was evaporated under
reduced pressure and the solid residue was purified with radial chromatography (CHCl3/MeOH, 50:1) to
afford compound 56 (47 mg, 26%). mp 242244 °C (AcOEt). 1H NMR : 2.40 (s, 3H, CH3), 7.26 (m, 2H,
H6, H8), 7.47 (m, 1H, H7), 7.69 (m, 1H, H5), 12.28 (bs, 1H, NH). MS (EI, m/z, %): 160 (M+, 100). Anal.
Calcd for C9H8N2O: C, 67.49; H, 5.03; N, 17.49. Found: C, 67.21; H, 5.11; N, 17.43.
b) A mixture of 1 (558 mg, 2 mmol) and hydrazine hydrate (99%, 6 mL) was heated on an oil bath at
110 °C for 2 h. After cooling, the reaction mixture was filtered, the filtrate was evaporated and the residue
was suspended in water (4 mL). The solid was filtered off and crystallized from EtOH to give 5 (154 mg,
48%).
c) A mixture of 1 (279 mg, 1 mmol), MeOH (12 mL) and MeI (0.13 mL, 2 mmol) was heated in an

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autoclave at 80 °C for 22 h. After cooling, the volatile components were evaporated under reduced
pressure and the residue was purified by radial chromatography (CHCl3/MeOH, 50:1) to give 5 (60 mg,
38%) and benzamide (58 mg, 48%).
d) A mixture of 1 (140 mg, 0.5 mmol), P4S10 (120 mg, 0.54 mmol) and xylene (2 mL) was heated under
reflux for 3.5 h. The reaction mixture was decanted and the solid residue was extracted with AcOEt (3 x
50 mL). The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the solid residue was separated by radial
chromatography (CHCl3/MeOH, 50:1) to give 5 (42 mg, 52%) and benzamide (26 mg, 43%).
3-(Hydroxymethyl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (6). a) A mixture of 1 (140 mg, 0.5 mmol), EtOH (2 mL) and
hydrazine hydrate (50 mg, 1 mmol) was heated under reflux for 13 h. After cooling to rt, the solid product
was filtered off, washed with EtOH and crystallized from water to give 67 (46 mg, 52%). mp 200205 °C.
1H NMR : 4.61 (d, 2H, J = 6.0 Hz, CH2), 4.99 (t, 1H, J = 6.0 Hz, OH), 7.31 (m, 2H, H6, H8), 7.51 (m,
1H, H7), 7.78 (m, 1H, H5), 12.38 (bs, 1H, NH). MS (EI, m/z, %): 176 (M+, 81). Anal. Calcd for
C9H8N2O2: C, 61.36; H, 4.58; N, 15.90. Found: C, 61.18; H, 4.34; N, 15.97.
b) To a solution of EtONa, prepared from Na (60 mg, 2.6 mmol) and EtOH (5 mL), compound 1 (300 mg,
1.07 mmol) was added. The mixture was heated under reflux for 1.5 h and then cooled to rt. The solid
product was filtered off, washed with EtOH and crystallized from EtOH to give 6 (124 mg, 66%).
c) To a solution of hydroxylamine hydrochloride (104 mg, 1.5 mmol) in EtOH (4.3 mL), a solution of
EtONa, prepared from Na (34.8 mg, 1.5 mmol) and EtOH (2.9 mL), was added, followed by an addition
of 1 (209 mg, 0.75 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated under reflux for 6.5 h. After cooling to rt, the
separated solid was filtered off, washed with EtOH and crystallized from EtOH to afford product 6 (89
mg, 67%). The collected filtrate was evaporated and the remaining residue was purified by radial
chromatography (AcOEt/CHCl3, 2:1) to give benzamidoxime5 (75 mg, 74 %).
3-(Benzoyloxymethyl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (7). A mixture of 1 (200 mg, 0.72 mmol) and concd H2SO4
(1 mL) was heated on an oil bath at 8090 °C for 3.5 h. The hot reaction mixture was then diluted with
cold water (10 mL), the precipitated solid was filtered off, washed with water and purified by radial
chromatography (CHCl3/MeOH, 25:1) to give 7 (36 mg, 18%). First filtrate was neutralized with
NaHCO3 and extracted with AcOEt (3 x 20 mL). After drying with Na2SO4, AcOEt was evaporated. The
residue was suspended in EtOH (1 mL), filtered off and washed with EtOH to give 7 (25 mg, 12%). mp
190192 °C. 1H NMR : 5.49 (s, 2H, CH2), 7.30 (m, 2H, H6, H8), 7.55 (m, 3H, 2H of Ph, H7), 7.69 (m,
2H, 1H of Ph, H5), 8.05 (m, 2H, Ph), 12.75 (bs, 1H, NH). MS (EI, m/z, %): 280 (M+, 7). Anal. Calcd for
C16H12N2O3: C, 68.57; H, 4.32; N, 9.99. Found: C, 68.38; H, 4.65; N, 9.97.
3,4-Dihydro-3-methylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (8). To a suspension of 1 (100 mg, 0.36 mmol) in EtOH
(20 mL), a suspension of Pd/C (20%, 20 mg) in EtOH was added. The resulting mixture was shaken

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 1, 2012
723
under H2 at rt for 20 h. After hydrogenation, the reaction mixture was filtered through celite, the solvent
was evaporated under reduced pressure and the crude product was separated by radial chromatography
(CHCl3/MeOH, 25:1) to give benzamide (40 mg, 92%) and 82b,8 (30 mg, 52%). mp 130133 °C. 1H NMR
: 1.24 (d, 3H, J = 6.6 Hz, CH3), 3.75 (dq, 1H, J = 1.7 and 6.6 Hz, H3), 5.97 (s, 1H, NH), 6.566.78 (m,
4H, H5, H6, H7, H8), 10.13 (s, 1H, NH). MS (EI, m/z, %): 162 (M+, 87). Anal. Calcd for C9H10N2O: C,
66.65; H, 6.21; N, 17.27. Found: C, 66.48; H, 6.33; N, 17.11.
2-Chloro-3-(chloromethyl)quinoxaline (9). A mixture of 1 (300 mg, 1.07 mmol) and POCl3 (3 mL) was
heated on an oil bath at 8085 °C for 2 h. The volatile components were evaporated under reduced
pressure and the residue was suspended in ice-cooled saturated aqueous NH3 (17 mL). The precipitated
solid was filtered off, washed with water and purified by radial chromatography (petroleum ether/AcOEt,
1
25:1) to give 99 (142 mg, 62%). mp 150151 °C. H NMR : 5.09 (s, 2H, CH2), 7.948.19 (m, 4H, H5,
H6, H7, H8). MS (EI, m/z, %): 212 (M+, 76). Anal. Calcd for C9H6Cl2N2: C, 50.73; H, 2.84; N, 13.15.
Found: C, 50.86; H, 2.57; N, 13.17.
1,3-Dimethylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (10). A mixture of 2 (155 mg, 0.53 mmol), EtOH (1 mL) and
aqueous HCl (18%, 2 mL) was heated under reflux for 2 h. After cooling to rt, the reaction mixture was
neutralized with 1M HCl and extracted with AcOEt (3x20 mL). After drying with Na2SO4, AcOEt was
evaporated under reduced pressure and the solid residue was purified by radial chromatography
1
(CHCl3/MeOH, 50:1) to afford compound 106a (38 mg, 41%). mp 8485 °C. H NMR : 2.44 (s, 3H,
CH3), 3.62 (s, 3H, CH3), 7.36 (ddd, 1H, J = 1.5, 7.9, 7.9 Hz, H6), 7.53 (dd, 1H, J = 1.5, 8.5 Hz, H8), 7.59
(ddd, 1H, J = 1.5, 7.9, 8.5 Hz, H7), 7.75 (dd, 1H, J = 1.5, 7.9 Hz, H5). MS (EI, m/z, %): 174 (M+, 100).
Anal. Calcd for C10H10N2O: C, 68.95; H, 5.79; N, 16.08. Found: C, 69.06; H, 6.09; N, 15.88.
1-Ethyl-3-methylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (11). A mixture of 3 (163 mg, 0.53 mmol), EtOH (1 mL) and
aqueous HCl (18%, 2 mL) was heated under reflux for 2 h. After cooling to rt, the reaction mixture was
neutralized with 1M HCl and extracted with AcOEt (3x20 mL). After drying with Na2SO4, AcOEt was
evaporated under reduced pressure and the solid residue was purified by radial chromatography
(CHCl3/MeOH, 50:1) to afford compound 116a (39 mg, 39%). mp 9395 °C. 1H NMR : 1.24 (t, 3H, J =
7.1 Hz, CH2CH3), 2.44 (s, 3H, CH3), 4.26 (q, 2H, J = 7.1 Hz, CH2CH3), 7.327.77 (m, 4H, H5, H6, H7,
H8). MS (EI, m/z, %): 188 (M+, 100). Anal. Calcd for C11H12N2O: C, 70.19; H, 6.43; N, 14.88. Found: C,
70.20; H, 6.72; N, 15.17.
1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-3-methylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (12). A mixture of 4 (100 mg, 0.3 mmol) and PPA
(1.1 g) was heated on an oil bath at 90 °C or 3 h. After cooling to rt, ice-cooled water was added (10 mL)
and the suspension was extracted with AcOEt (3x20 mL). After drying with Na2SO4, AcOEt was
evaporated under reduced pressure and the solid residue was purified by radial chromatography (AcOEt)

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 1, 2012
to afford benzamide (27 mg, 72%) and 1211 (12 mg, 19%). mp 152-155 °C. 1H NMR : 2.44 (s, 3H, CH3),
3.69 (m, 2H, CH2CH2OH), 4.31 (t, 2H, J = 6.1 Hz, CH2CH2OH), 4.88 (t, 1H, J = 5.9 Hz, OH), 7.33 (m,
1H, H6), 7.55 (m, 1H, H7), 7.65 (m, 1H, H8), 7.74 (m, 1H, H5). MS (EI, m/z, %): 204 (M+, 41). Anal.
Calcd for C11H12N2O2: C, 64.69; H, 5.92; N, 13.72. Found: C, 64.91; H, 6.19; N, 13.42.
Formation of 3-(chloromethyl)-1-methylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (13) and 3-(acetyloxymethyl)-
1-methylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (14). A mixture of 2 (293 mg, 1 mmol), CH2Cl2 (17 mL) and AcCl (0.14
mL, 2 mmol) was heated under reflux for 4 h. The volatile components were evaporated under reduced
pressure and the solid residue was purified by radial chromatography (petroleum ether/AcOEt, 5:1) to
give 1311 (143 mg, 67%), followed by radial chromatography (petroleum ether/AcOEt, 1:1) to give 14 (17
1
mg, 7%) and benzamide (103 mg, 85%). Compound 13: mp 165169 °C (MeOH). H NMR : 3.66 (s,
3H, CH3), 4.79 (s, 2H, CH2), 7.43 (m, 1H, H6), 7.61 (m, 1H, H8), 7.70 (m, 1H, H7), 7.85 (m, 1H, H5).
MS (EI, m/z, %): 208 (M+, 100). Anal. Calcd for C10H9ClN2O: C, 57.57; H, 4.35; N, 13.43. Found: C,
57.46; H, 4.30; N, 13.27. Compound 14: mp 4950 °C. 1H NMR : 2.16 (s, 3H, CH3), 3.64 (s, 3H, CH3),
5.23 (s, 3H, CH2), 7.41 (ddd, 1H, J = 1.5, 6.8, 8.3 Hz, H6), 7.60 (dd, 1H, J = 1.5, 8.3 Hz, H8), 7.67 (ddd,
1H, J = 1.5, 6.8, 8.3 Hz, H7), 7.81 (dd, 1H, J = 1.5, 8.3 Hz, H5). MS (EI, m/z, %): 232 (M+, 29). Anal.
Calcd for C12H12N2O3: C, 62.06; H, 5.21; N, 12.06. Found: C, 62.29; H, 5.62; N, 11.62.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank the Slovenian Research Agency for financial support (P1-0230-0103).
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