Ethoxycarbonyl nitrene, generated by the photolysis of ethyl azidoformate (I), was inserted preferentially into the α C–H bonds of acyclic ethers. Each of the reactions with acyclic ethers gave N-alkoxyurethane via a cleavage of the C–O bond, indicating that an O–N ylide is an intermediate of the nitrene reaction. Comparing sensitized photolysis with direct photolysis of I in ethers and in alcohols, it was found that the nitrene insertion into the α C– ...
