Aziridination of Aldehydes

A variety of methods for the asymmetric syntheses of aziridine-2-carboxylates have been developed. They can be generally classified into eight categories based on the key ring-forming transformation and starting materials employed (i) cyclization of hydroxy amino esters, (ii) cyclization of hydroxy azido esters, (iii) cyclization of a-halo- and ot-sulfonyloxy-(3-amino esters, (iv) aziridination of ot, 3-unsaturated esters, (v) aziridination of imines, (vi) aziridination of aldehydes, (vii) 2-carboxylation of aziridines, and (viii) resolution of racemic aziridine-2-carboxylates. 

A multi-component catalytic asymmetric aziridination of aldehydes employs a protected amine and ethyl diazoacetate as reactants and an (5)-VAPOL boroxinate catalyst, giving aziridine-2-carboxylic esters in up to 99% ee. It works for some cases where preformed imines failed. ... 

Gupta AK, Mukheijee M, Wulff WD. Multicomponent catalytic asymmetric aziridination of aldehydes. Org. Lett. 2011 13(21) 5866-5869. 

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