Direct Stereospecific Synthesis of Unprotected N-H and N-Me Aziridines from Olefins

Unadorned Aziridines Multiple catalytic methods have been developed to make aziridines—strained triangular carbon-nitrogen-carbon rings that function as versatile synthetic intermediates. However, the majority require protection of the nitrogen precursor with a sulfonyl group that is subsequently inconvenient to remove. Jat et al. (p. 61 ; see the Perspective by Türkmen and Aggarwal ) used a hydroxylamine derivative as the nitrogen source together with an established rhodium catalyst to prepare a wide range of unprotected aziridines, with nitrogen bonded simply to hydrogen or a methyl group.