Investigations of regio- and stereoselectivities in the synthesis of cytotoxic isoxazolidines through 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrones to dipolarophiles bearing an allylic oxygen

Regio- and stereoselectivities in cycloadditions of nitrones to dipolarophiles bearing an allylic oxygen, which furnishes substituted-isoxazolidine analogs of the furanose ring of nucleosides, have been investigated. Although the obtained regioselectivities are anticipated, a rationalization of the preferred formation of endo-cycloadducts necessitates the involvement of an allylic oxygen in secondary interaction. The obtained isoxazolidines display cytotoxic activities against a number of human cancer cell lines.