Abstract
Cyclooctatetraene is known to be in equilibrium with its valence isomer bicyclo{4.2.0} Octatriene, although the equilibrium is dramatically in favour of the monocyclic form1. This latter valence ismer is extremenly reactive in π4π8 cycloaddition reactions2 and readily form stable adducts. Azaanalogues of this carbocyclic system are also of interest in heteroalicyclic chemistry, but few methods for their synthesis have yet appeared. Azocines have received some attention of late3,5, and the recent work of Paquette's group4 is particularly impressive in this respect. Although the parent azocine is extremely unstable it too has recently been described5, The 1,2-diazocines, however are even less accessible although Maier and co-workers6 have prepared the diazocines (3–5) as outlined in Scheme 1.