Synthesis and cascade rearrangement of 3-arylazo-4-(3-ethoxycarbonylureido) furoxans

Abstract3-Arylazo-4-(3-ethoxycarbonylureido)furoxans, which were synthesized by the reactions of 4-amino-3-arylazofuroxans with ethoxycarbonyl isocyanate, were subjected to cascade rearrangements under the action of potassium tert-butoxide in dimethylformamide or by heating in dimethyl sulfoxide to form 4-amino-2-aryl-5-nitro-2H-1,2,3-triazoles. X-ray diffraction study and quantum-chemical calculations (B3LYP/6-31G**) of one of ureidofuroxans demonstrated that the intramolecular contact between the carbonyl group and the nitrogen atom of furoxan corresponds to the charge transfer from the lone electron pair of the oxygen atom to the antibonding orbital of the N—O bond.