Five enaminones 4a-e derived from the reaction of 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-oxazoline anion with ethyl acetate, ethyl benzoate, ethyl cyclohexanoate, ethyl hexanoate and ethyl p-methyl benzoate, respectively, were obtained and characterized by 13C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, FTIR, and mass spectral analysis. The enaminones 4a and 4b were also analysed by X-ray diffraction. Enaminone 4a crystallized in the monoclinic P2(1)/n space group with a = 9.1450(20) Å, b = 10.5150(20) Å, c = 9.5670 (20) Å, beta= 106.21(30)°, Z = 4. Enaminone 4b crystallized in the monoclinic P2(1)/c space group with a = 16.0520(30) Å, b = 26.0460(50) Å, c = 12.3520 (20) Å, beta = 111.900(30)°, Z = 4. All five enaminones were found to have an extensive pi electron delocalization and to have the same configuration where the double bond is trapped by an internal hydrogen bond between the NH and the C=O.
enaminones; 2-oxazolines; intramolecular hydrogen bonding
