title: 2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octa-3,5-dione via a nitrile Diels-Alder reaction.
abstract: The hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of an electron-deficient nitrile, p-toluenesulfonyl cyanide, with the silyl enol ether of cyclohexenone produced a hydrolytically sensitive [4 + 2] adduct in good yield. Use of Mander's reagent, ethyl cyanoformate, with the same diene, produced an unstable adduct. Hydrolysis of the tosyl cyanide adduct resulted in the isoquinuclidinone 2-aza[2.2.2]octa-3,5-dione as a crystalline compound in excellent yield from the nitrile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA. cmcclure@chemistry.montana.edu
authors.forename: Cynthia K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Link