4H-1,2-benzoxazines with electron-withdrawing substituents on the benzene ring: synthesis and application as potent intermediates for oxygen-functionalized aromatic compounds

A new general method for synthesizing functionalized 4H-1,2-benzoxazine derivatives is described. Although 4H-1,2-benzoxazine is one of the fundamental structure of the oxazine group, no general synthetic method for the heterocycle has been established. We found that 3-methoxycarbonyl-4H-1,2-benzoxazine was obtained in good yield when methyl 2-nitro-3-phenylpropionate was treated with an excess amount of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. This methodology was also applicable for the synthesis of 4H-1,2-benzoxazine rings functionalized with various electron-withdrawing substituents on the benzene ring. Furthermore, we also show that the resulting 4H-1,2-benzoxazines can be used as precursors of functionalized o-quinone methides and multisubstituted phenols. This type of heterocycle can be a potent intermediate to oxygen-fuctionalized aromatic compounds.