Direct Synthesis of Isoxazolidinylphosphines by Cycloaddition of Nitrones to Diphenylphosphinoethenes and X-Ray Structure of 7,7-Dimethyl-1-oxo-1-phenyl- 3-diphenylphosphinyl-hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazaphosphorine

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of N-alkyl nitrones with diphenylvinylphosphines affords directly isoxazolidinylphosphines in satisfactory yields and in regio- and stereoselective manner. The parent diphenylvinylphosphine was found to favor the formation of 5-phosphinoisoxazolidines whereas diphenylpropenylphosphine gave instead the 4-phosphinoisoxazolidine regioisomer. However, in reactions utilizing an alkylarylvinylphosphine and/or N-arylnitrone, oxidation of the phosphine by the nitrone reagent was found to precede the cycloaddition. An attempted conversion of the bicyclic isoxazolidine derived from 2,2-dimethyl-dihydro-2H-pyrrole 1-oxide and diphenylvinylphosphine to the perhydropyrrolo[1,2-c] [1,3,2]oxaza-phosphorine ring system was accomplished through the use of the corresponding phosphine oxide derivative and provided a single diastereoisomer of the desired pyrrolooxazaphosphorinane characterized ultimately in the form of its dioxide hydrate by the X-ray diffraction technique.