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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Synthesis and Purification of Iodoaziridines Involving Quantitative Selection of the Optimal Stationary Phase for Chromatography
Published on: May 16, 2014
Dimerization and isomerization reactions of alpha-lithiated terminal aziridines
David M Hodgson1, Philip G Humphreys, Steven M Miles
1Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, United Kingdom. david.hodgson@chem.ox.ac.uk
Abstract:
The scope of dimerization and isomerization reactions of alpha-lithiated terminal aziridines is detailed. Regio- and stereoselective deprotonation of simple terminal aziridines with lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (LTMP) or lithium dicyclohexylamide (LiNCy2) generates trans-alpha-lithiated terminal aziridines. These latter species can then undergo dimerization or isomerization reactions depending on the nature of the N-protecting group. alpha-Lithiated terminal aziridines bearing N-alkoxycarbonyl (Boc) protection undergo N- to C-[1,2] migration to give N-H trans-aziridinylesters. In contrast, aziridines bearing N-organosulfonyl [tert-butylsulfonyl (Bus)] protection undergo rapid dimerization to give 2-ene-1,4-diamines or, if a pendant alkene is present, diastereoselective cyclopropanation to give 2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes. All of these reactions were used as key steps in the preparation of synthetically and biologically important targets.
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