BH3 complexes of N-alkyl-2-phenylaziridines have been synthesized land their structure and stereochemistry proved with DFT calculations and NMR experiments. It has been demonstrated that the Lewis acid complexation is able to promote a regioselective beta-lithiation in 2-phenylaziridino-borane complexes. The lithiated intermediates were configurationally stable, allowing an enantioselective preparation of cis-2,3-disubstitiited aziridines.
KIMPE N. DE; VERHE R.; BUYCK L. DE; SCHAMP N., J. ORG. CHEM., 1980, 45, NO 26, 5319-5325