Central nervous system active compounds. X. Some aspects of the photochemical rearrangement of N-alkylsuccinimides to hexahydroazepinones

Abstract

The synthetic potential for the photolysis of alkylsuccinimides to give 6-substituted hexahydroazepine-2,5-diones is investigated. The reaction generally proceeds poorly, particularly when phenyl, cyano or ethoxycarbonyl groups are present. Fragmentation and intramolecular disproportionation reactions are identified as major side reactions.