1,3- versus 1,4-[π4+π2] Cycloadditions between methyl glyoxylate oxime and cyclopentadiene or cyclopentene

The acid catalyzed cycloaddition reaction of methyl glyoxylate oxime with cyclopentadiene (CPD) afforded the corresponding aza-Diels–Alder adducts, the endo and exo isomers of (±)-methyl 2-hydroxy-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-3-carboxylates, and as the major product a 1,3-cycloadduct, methyl (1RS,4RS,5RS)-(2-oxa-3-azabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-7-ene)-4-carboxylate. The similar reaction using cyclopentene (CP) provided only the 1,3-cycloadduct methyl (1SR,4RS,5SR)-(2-oxa-3-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane)-4-carboxylate. The influence of various parameters on the reaction outcome was studied and, based on the results obtained, a mechanism for the formation of both 1,3- and 1,4-cycloadducts is proposed. The structure of all adducts was confirmed by NMR spectroscopic data and/or by X-ray crystallography.