Photochemical conversion of isoxazole I to 5-hydroxyimidazoline VII proceeded via the
trapping of the photogenerated acylazirine III with amines
under UV light irradiation. This is the first
report of the efficient synthesis of 5-hydroxyimidazolines that are
not readily accessible by other means. 5-Hydroxyimidazolines were
also converted into multisubstituted imidazoles in one step by treatment
with trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA) and 2,6-lutidine in dichloromethane.