With R a phenyl group the reaction takes place in boiling pyridine for 24 hours.[5]
This type of triazole has an amino group in the 5 position. After ring-opening to a diazo intermediate, C-C bond rotation is possible with 1,3-migration of a proton.
Certain 1-alkyl-2-iminopyrimidines also display this type of rearrangement.
In the first step is an addition reaction of water followed by ring-opening of the hemiaminal to the aminoaldehyde followed by ring closure.
A known drug example of the Dimroth rearrangement includes in the synthesis of Bemitradine [88133-11-3].