Azamine intermediate

N- Aminoaziridines have been converted to alkenes by reaction with a variety of oxidizing agents (70JA1784). Usually, the deamination reaction is stereospecific. The oxidation of l-amino-2,3-diphenylaziridines with manganese dioxide, however, was not stereospecific. The trans compound gives entirely frans-stilbene, whereas the cfs-aziridine forms a mixture of 85% trans- and 15% c -aikene. cw-Stilbene is not isomerized to trans under the reaction conditions, and the results are explained in terms of an azamine intermediate which can isomerize through a tautomeric equilibrium. 

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