Pyrrolizidine- 1,2-epoxides. The α- and β-epoxides from monocrotaline

Abstract

Monocrotaline is not attacked at the l,2-double bond by the usual peraoid reagents but epoxidation is accomplished by trifluoroperacetic acid in excess tri-fluoroacetic anhydride and chloroform. Under these conditions N-oxidation does not occur, possibly because an acylammonium complex is formed.