Meisenheimer rearrangement. This ring expansion leading to isoxazolidines occurs readily, without trapping of the transient N-oxide. Starting with azetidines bearing a nitrile or an ester group at C-2, the rearrangement is regioselective. However, a varying amount of epimerization on the migrating radical is observed, which can also be observed with the related [1,2] Stevens rearrangement.
Upon treatment with DAST (diethylaminosulfur trifluoride) enantiopure 2-hydroxyalkylazetidines rearrange into 3-fluoropyrrolidines. The reaction is stereospecific and involves a bicyclic 1-azoniabicyclo[2.1.0]pentane intermediate which is regioselectively opened by a fluoride anion.