Stereospecific Suzuki, Sonogashira, and Negishi coupling reactions of N-alkoxyimidoyl iodides and bromides.

A high-yielding stereospecific route to the synthesis of single geometric isomers of diaryl oxime ethers through Suzuki coupling of N-alkoxyimidoyl iodides is described. This reaction occurs with complete retention of the imidoyl halide geometry to give single E- or Z-isomers of diaryl oxime ethers. The Sonogashira coupling of N-alkoxyimidoyl iodides and bromides with a wide variety of terminal alkynes to afford single geometric isomers of aryl alkynyl oxime ethers has also been developed.

Mechanism of methoxide ion substitution in the z and e isomers of o-methylbenzohydroximoyl halides.

Kinetics and stereochemical studies have been carried out on the reactions of the Z and E isomers of O-methylbenzohydroximoyl halides [1Z and 1E, ArC(X)=NOCH(3)] with sodium methoxide in 9:1 DMSO-methanol. The reactions of methoxide ion with hydroximoyl fluorides (X = F) are stereospecific. The reaction with 1Z (X = F) gives only the Z substitution product (1Z, X =OCH(3)).