New azabenzoquinones by ring‐expansion reactions

Abstract Ozonolysis of the pyrrolidinediones 4 afforded the pyrrolidinetriones 5 , which in the presence of Lewis acids were converted into maleimide 6 . Analogously, ozonolysis of the pyrrolidinones 7 gave the pyrrolidinediones 8 , which were converted into the pyridinetriones 11a, b via Lewis acid catalyzed isomerization to yield the trihydroxypyridones 10 and ensuing air oxidation. In solution two tautomeric forms of the pyridinetriones 11 may exist both of which represent hydroxy‐azabenzoquinones. In two steps compounds 11 were transformed into the azaquinone derivatives 19 . Representatives of another type of azaquinones are compounds 28a, b. These were generated in two steps from the pyridones 25 . The azaquinone 28a reacted easily with acidic compounds yielding the adducts 26, 27 and 29 or with 2‐butenal forming the cycloadduct 30 .