Synthesis of spiro[1,4-benzothiazine-2,2′-pyrans] starting from methyl β-D-arabino-2-hexulopyranosonate

Dedicated to Professor Klaus Burger on the occasion of his 60th birthday Methyl β‐D‐arabono‐2‐hexulopyranosonate 1 has via the novel glycosyl donor 3 been transformed into the thiophenyl glycosides 4 and 5. Catalytic hydrogenation of the nitro compound 4 in alkaline solution led to spontaneous cyclization and deprotection to form the cyclic hydroxamic acid 7. The related lactams 8 and 9 were obtained from amine 5. The spiro[1,4‐benzothiazine‐2,2′‐pyrans] 7–9 are the first representatives of a novel class of heterocycles structurally related to bioactive natural products. As shown by the values for J3′,4′ and J4′,5′ the glycosides 4, 5 and 6 adopt a 5C2 conformation of the pyranoid ring whereas the 1,4‐benzothiazine system in 7–9 forces a conformational change into the 2C5 conformation.