Structure of 4-(2-chloro-4,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-5-oxazolone. X-ray and NMR study

The azlactone of 6-chloroveratraldehyde 3 (4-(2-chloro-4,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-5-oxazolone) was synthesized from 6-chloroveratraldehyde 2 and its structure investigated using X-ray crystallographic and nuclear magnetic resonance methods. Compound 3 crystallized in the P21/c (#14) space group (Z = 4) with cell dimensions a = 9.148(2), b = 22.938(2), c = 6.707(1) Å, and β = 111.50(2)°. The X-ray study shows that azlactone 3 exists as the Z-isomer and crystallizes as a planar structure, i.e., both the phenyl and azlactone ring systems, as well as the functional groups attached to them, lie in the same plane. The 1H and 13C NMR spectral values also support the formation of the Z-isomer only, during the synthesis of 4-(2-chloro-4,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-5-oxazolone.