Diverting Reactive Intermediates Toward Unusual Chemistry: Unexpected Anthranil Products from Davis-Beirut Reaction.

The discovery of a new variation on the Davis-Beirut reaction is described in which an atypical heterocyclic framework (the anthranil or benzo[c]isoxazole framework) is formed as the result of diversion of a key reactive intermediate away from its expected reactivity-a potentially general approach to reaction design and development. Experimental and computational support for the proposed mechanism and origins of altered reactivity are described.