10.1016/S0040-4020(01)86196-2
The study investigates the reactions of benzoylcyanate oxide (BZNO) with pyridine and isoquinoline. Pyridine reacts with BZNO to form a fragile zwitterionic adduct, which slowly reverts to the reactants and ultimately leads to benzoyl isocyanate and related products. In polar solvents, pyridine catalyzes the dimerization of BZNO to form the “abnormal” 1,4,2,3-dioxadiazine dimer, while in apolar solvents, site-specific biscycloadducts are obtained. The proposed mechanism involves two labile intermediates, a zwitterion and a monocycloadduct. The study also explores the stability of these intermediates through modifications of the reactants. The reaction of BZNO with isoquinoline yields a moderately stable cycloadduct, which can be converted to an isocarbostyril derivative through isomerization. The study provides insights into the solvent effects on product distribution and the stability of the intermediates involved in these reactions.