Intramolecular Ring-Opening Decomposition of Aryl Azetidines

The ring strain present in azetidines can lead to undesired stability issues. Herein, we described a series of N-RN substituted azetidines which undergo an acid-mediated intramolecular ring-opening decomposition via nucleophilic attack of a pendant amide group. Studies were conducted to understand the decomposition mechanism enabling the design of stable analogues.