Diels–Alder reactions of the methyl 2-aryl-2H-azirine-3-carboxylates 1a and 1b have been investigated in order to determine the stereoselectivity and regioselectivity of the reaction. The azirines react with a range of electron rich dienes at room temperature to give Diels– Alder adducts. The reaction leads to the formation of endo-cycloadducts with both cyclic and acyclic dienes; furan is exceptional in giving an exo-adduct 7. X-Ray crystallography has ...
