Reaction of N-vinylindazolium tetrafluoroborates with aqueous potassiu
m carbonate or sodium borohydride affords 2,3-dihydroquinazolines whic
h evolve to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolines by intra or intermolecular
nucleophilic attack. The X-ray structure of one tetrahydroquinazoline,
the tricyclic compound 17a, was determined (C14H16N2O5, P2(1)/n, a=6.
001(4)Angstrom;, b=13.601(8)Angstrom, c=17.452(6)Angstrom, beta=94.93(
3)degrees, V=1419(1)Angstrom(3), Z=4, R=0.078 for 1541 observed reflex
ions). Only open-chain compounds are obtained when these salts react w
ith methanol. 2-Vinylindazolium and 3-vinylbenzotriazolium tetrafluoro
borates react with aqueous potassium carbonate and with sodium borohyd
ride yielding the corresponding neutral benzazoles by cleavage of the
azole-vinyl bond. They add methanol to the exocyclic double bond and,
in the case of indazole derivative, an expansion to a 1,2-dihydroquina
zoline is observed in basic medium. A general mechanism is proposed fo
r the reaction of vinylpyrazolium and indazolium salts with nucleophil
es.