Carbenoid Transfer to Imines: A New Asymmetric Catalytic Synthesis of Aziridines

Abstract

An azomethine ylide is invoked as an intermediate in the copper-catalyzed addition of diazoesters to imines [Eq. (a)]. Coordinated to the chiral copper(I)–bis(dihydrooxazole) catalyst, these intermediates cyclize to produce enantiomerically enriched 1,3-diaryl-2-carboxyethylaziridines (44–67% ee).