Aziridines from nitrene addition reactions

The intramolecular aziridination of 2-(alkenyl)phenyl azides was best performed under pho-tolytic conditions116-117, generating the nitrene (ca. 0.001 M solution in cyclohexane, 350 nra, Rayonet Photoreactor)118. The nitrene addition reaction proceeded with complete diastereose-lectivity, the double bond geometry was retained in the aziridine thus produced. The alkaloid ( )-virantmycin was synthesized from the aziridine 2117. 

Nitrene addition reactions have somewhat more scope when the reactions are carried out by azide photolysis for example, the acyinitrene pivaloylnitrene adds in moderate yield and with good stereoselectivity to cj>alkenes when it is generated from pivaloyl azide by photolysis in dichloromethane." Similarly p-cyanobenzoylnitrene, when generated by photolysis of the azide 21 in the presence of 2,5-dihydrofuian, gives the aziridine 22 in moderate yield (Scheme 6.11)." This nitrene and other p-substituted benzoylnitrenes also react with Cgo to give fulleroaziridines such as 23." ... 

Aziridine synthesis can be achieved via nitrene addition to alkenes making use of a sulfonoxycarbamate [112]. Treatment of this reagent vith potassium carbonate in the presence of an alkene together with a PTC leads to the aziridine (Eq. 3.20). The reaction time is reduced from 2-3 h to 15 min when sonication is applied. 

The aziridination of olefins, which forms a three-membered nitrogen heterocycle, is one important nitrene transfer reaction. Aziridination shows an advantage over the more classic olefin hydroamination reaction in some syntheses because the three-membered ring that is formed can be further modified. More recently, intramolecular amidation and intermolecular amination of C-H bonds into new C-N bonds has been developed with various metal catalysts. When compared with conventional substitution or nucleophilic addition routes, the direct formation of C-N bonds from C-H bonds reduces the number of synthetic steps and improves overall efficiency.2 After early work on iron, manganese, and copper,6 Muller, Dauban, Dodd, Du Bois, and others developed different dirhodium carboxylate catalyst systems that catalyze C-N bond formation starting from nitrene precursors,7 while Che studied a ruthenium porphyrin catalyst system extensively.8 The rhodium and ruthenium systems are... 

This review is written to cover the needs of synthetic chemists with interests in oxidizing alkenes by addition of nitrogenous substituents. Whilst some aspects have been covered in previous reviews (noted in the text), most notably in the Tetrahedron Report No. 144, Amination of Alkenes and prior reviews on aziridines and nitrenes, the present review is the fust conq>ilation of references to the whole range of these particular bond-forming processes. A review by Whitham provides a useful general introduction to reaction mechanisms of additions to alkenes in greater detail than can be covered here. The oxidation requirement excludes from the scope the additions of N H and most additions of N + Metal or N + C. Hence, unmodified Michael and Ritter reactions are excluded. These topics are mostly covered in Volume 4 of the present series. 

Aziridines can be prepared directly from double-bond compounds by photolysis or thermolysis of a mixture of the substrate and an azide. The reaction has been carried out with R = aryl, cyano, EtOOC, and RSO2, as well as other groups. The reaction can take place by at least two pathways. In one, the azide is converted to a nitrene, which adds to the double bond in a manner analogous to that of carbene addition (15-62). Reaction of NsONHC02Et/ CuO [Ns = A(/7-toluenesulfonyl-inimo)] and a conjugated ketone, for example, leads to the A-carboethoxy aziridine derivative.Calcium oxide has also been used to generate the nitrene.Other specialized reagents have also been used." ... 

Sidewall functionalization of SWCNTs was achieved via the addition of reactive alkyloxycarbonyl nitrenes obtained from alkoxycarbonyl azides. The driving force for this reaction is the thermally-induced N2 extrusion. The nitrenes generated attack nanotube sidewalls in a [2+l]-cycloaddition forming an aziridine ring at the tubes sidewalls (Scheme 1.19). 

When compared to aziridination or sulfoxide imination, efficient amidation of C-H bonds is a more formidable task since it involves the activation of relatively inert C-H bonds. With an increase in the difficulty of the reaction comes an increase in the value of products, as many are derived from cheap simple hydrocarbons. In addition to making more valuable materials in fewer steps, a better mechanistic understanding of nitrene transfer can also be gleaned, leading to the development of efficient catalysts. 

The intramolecular 1,3-cycloaddition of azidoalkyl cyclohexenones occurred smoothly when the temperature range was between 80-110 °C, however, aziridines were obtained from the intermediate dihydrotriazoles il the correct substitution pattern and regiochemical arrangement were present, cf. formation of 13 and 14 vs. IS131,132. The reaction was applied to the formal total synthesis of ( )-desamylperhydrohistrionicotoxin132. Direct nitrene enone addition can not be ruled out when the reaction is performed in refluxing xylene. 

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