Synthesis of 1-azaspiro[4.4]nonan-1-oxyls via intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.

Sterically shielded nitroxides of the pyrrolidine series have shown the highest resistance to reduction. Here we report the synthesis of new pyrrolidine nitroxides from 5,5-dialkyl-1-pyrroline N-oxides via the introduction of a pent-4-enyl group to the nitrone carbon followed by an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction and isoxazolidine ring opening. The kinetics of reduction of the new nitroxides with ascorbate were studied and compared to those of previously published (1S,2R,3'S,4'S,5'S,2″R)-dispiro[(2-hydroxymethyl)cyclopentan-1,2'-(3',4'-di-tert-butoxy)pyrrolidine-5',1″-(2″-hydroxymethyl)cyclopentane]-1'-oxyl (1).