Antibacterial Benzisoxazolones. An Unusual Rearrangement Product from o-Nitrostyrene Oxide en Route to the Photolabile Carbonyl Protecting Group (o-Nitrophenyl)ethylene Glycol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00177a010

In the process of synthesizing the known, photolabile protecting group (o-nitrophenyl)ethylene glycol, we uncovered an acid-mediated rearrangement of o-nitrostyrene oxide to 1-(hydroxymethyl)-2,1-benzisoxazol-3(1H)-one.The structure was ascertained by IR, UV, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS, and X-ray crystallography.Also the benzisoxazolone was prepared by independent synthesis from an o-nitrobenzoate.Another novel transformation uncovered was the conversion of o-nitrostyrene oxide to 2-(o-nitrophenyl)ethanol with use of potassium hydroxide and 18-crown-6.Similiar chemistry was insignificant with p-nitrostyrene oxide.The benzisoxazolone exhibited antibacterial and antileukemic activity (in vitro).