1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of nitrile oxides with 7-oxa- and 7-azabenzonorbornadienes

Dipolar cycloaddition reactions allow for the efficient construction of five-membered heterocycles, often with diverse medicinal applications. We examined the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 7-oxabenzonorbornadienes and 7-azabenzonorbornadienes with acetonitrile oxide and benzonitrile oxide, achieving an assortment of heterobicycle-fused isoxazolines with good to excellent yields. All isoxazolines were consistently directed to the exo face of the bicyclic framework with complete stereoselectivity. Preliminary biological testing of the adducts also showed positive anti-cancer activity, suggesting their potential pharmaceutical utility.