A Unique and Highly Efficient Method for Catalytic Olefin Aziridination

A facile, high yielding, and stereospecific method for olefin aziridination is described. This process capitalizes on the unique reactivity of sulfamate esters in combination with 1-2 mol % Rh2(tfacam)4 and PhI(OAc)2 as the terminal oxidant to promote N-atom transfer reactions. A range of structurally and electronically disparate alkenes are found to react under conditions that employ substrate as the limiting reagent and only a slight excess of H2NSO3CH2CCl3 as the nitrogen source. The product alkoxysulfonyl aziridines are useful intermediates that react smoothly with nucleophiles to generate 1,2-amine derivatives. Following aziridine ring-opening, the N-trichloroethoxysulfonyl group can be removed under mild reductive conditions (Zn(Cu)/AcOH-MeOH) to give the corresponding 1 degrees amine. The efficient and convenient performance of this chemistry should establish it as a useful tool for synthesis.