Verdazyl Radicals as Substrates for Organic Synthesis: A Synthesis of 3-Methyl-5-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazolones

The synthesis of oxadiazolones under hydrolytic conditions is described for a series of 3-methyl-5-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazolone compounds. The unique starting materials for the hydrolysis reaction are obtained from efficient 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of styrene and azomethine imine dipoles derived from verdazyl radicals via a disproportionation reaction. A proposed mechanism for the formation of these biologically relevant oxadiazolones includes an opening of the tetrazinone ring followed by a 5-exo-trig ring closure. In support of the mechanism, in one case the ring-opened intermediate was isolated and subsequently treated with acid to give the relevant oxadiazolone.