A novel approach to substituted 2H-azirines.

2-(Benzotriazol-1-yl)-2H-azirines 4a-c, obtained by treatment of oximes 2a-c with tosyl chloride and aqueous KOH, were reacted with benzylmagnesium bromide or 4-methylbenzylmagnesium bromide in the presence of zinc chloride to give 2-benzyl-2H-azirines 5a-f. Potassium phthalimide and sodium salt of benzenethiol converted 2-(benzotriazol-1-yl)-2H-azirines 4a-c into novel 2H-azirines 6a-c and 7 in good yields.