Transition metal catalyzed ring opening reactions of 2-phenyl-3-vinyl substituted 2H-azirines

Treatment of 2-phenyl-3-vinyl-substituted 2H-azirines with Grubbsʹ catalyst induces a clean rearrangement and affords products derived from carbon–nitrogen bond cleavage of the 2H-azirine ring. However, when the reaction was carried out using Wilkinsonʹs catalyst in an alcoholic solvent, the only product obtained in high yield corresponded to an α,β-unsaturated oxime.