Direct observation of methoxycarbonylnitrene†
Abstract
The simplest alkoxycarbonylnitrene, CH3OC(O)N, has been generated through laser (266 and 193 nm) photolysis of CH3OC(O)N3 and CH3OC(O)NCO and subsequently characterized by IR (15N, D-labelling) and EPR (|D/hc| = 1.66 cm−1 and |E/hc| = 0.020 cm−1) spectroscopy in cryogenic matrices. Two conformers of the nitrene, with the CH3 group being in syn or anti configuration to the C
O bond, have been unambiguously identified. Further UV light irradiation (365 nm) of the nitrene results in isomerization to CH3ONCO, completing the frequently explored mechanism for the Curtius-rearrangement of CH3OC(O)N3.

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