INSERTION OF BENZOYLNITRENE TOWARD HYDROCARBON C–H BONDS

Abstract

Abstract Benzoylnitrene, generated photochemically from benzoyl azide, was inserted stereospecifically into the tertiary C–H bonds of cis- and trans-1,4-dimethylcyclohexanes. The insertion regioselectivities toward the C–H bonds were determined by use of 2-methylbutane and 2,3-dimethylbutane. The insertion proceeds involving the singlet nitrene, but not the triplet, and the photo-Curtius rearrangement takes place independently of the nitrene reaction.