Ring opening and ring closure in an indolizine structure activated through S(N)Ar coupling with superelectrophilic 4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan, an unusual intramolecular oxygen transfer from a N-oxide functionality.

Coupling of superelectrophilic 4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan with a pi-excessive indolizine structure affords a strongly dipolar substitution product which undergoes a facile but unusual rearrangement induced by an intramolecular oxygen atom transfer from the N-oxide functionality of the DNBF moiety.