Ketones
with a 2-nitrophenyl group at the α-position were
treated with sodium hydroxide in methanol at 60 °C. Under these
conditions, enolates derived from the ketones intramolecularly reacted
with the nitro group to form a variety of nitrones. Additional experimental
results, including the unexpected isolation of N-hydroxyindolinone
as a byproduct, led to a proposed reaction mechanism, occurring via
an α-hydroxyketone. The resultant nitrones underwent inter-
and intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with olefins to afford
polycyclic isoxazolidines.