A reasonable mechanism for the formation of 3 from 2 involves the intermediacy of the imino ester 6 formed via a concerted step from 2. Attack by the imino nitrogen on the carbonyl carbon of 6 followed by elimination of chloride ion and a proton gives 3 (Scheme 11). Evidence consistent with a concerted pathway to 6 was obtained by employing 2 in which the carbonyl oxygen is enriched with lag. The mass spectrum of 3 revealed that none of ...