Design of a robust Ru(salen) complex: aziridination with improved turnover number using N-arylsulfonyl azides as precursorsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: typical experimental procedures, determination of enantiomeric excess and elementary analysis for complexes 3 and 5. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b4/b407693a/

Abstract

A new robust fluorinated (OC)Ru(salen) complex was designed on the basis of an X-ray structure of its parent complex to show improved turnover numbers (up to 878) and enantioselectivities (up to 99%) in aziridination reactions using p-toluenesulfonyl (Ts) or p-nitrobenzenesulfonyl (Ns) azide as the nitrene precursor; the latter is synthetically advantageous since the Ns group is N-protecting and can be removed under mild conditions.