Substituted 2,3,7-triazabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-3-ene-4-carboxylic acid esters react with chlorine and bromine to give the corresponding 4-halo-2,3,7-triazabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-2-ene-4-carboxylates. Heating of the latter to 120 degreesC under reduced pressure leads to elimination of nitrogen molecule and formation of 6-halo-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-5-carboxylates.
Substituted methyl 2,3,7-triazabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-3-ene-4-carboxylates and 1,2,7-triazaspiro[4.4]-non-2-ene-3-carboxylates react with N-iodosuccinimide (or the system iodine-silver trifluoroacetate) to give, respectively, methyl 6-iodo-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-6-carboxylates or methyl 1-iodo-4,6-dioxo-5-azaspiro-[2.4]heptane-1-carboxylates as mixtures of exo and endo isomers.