Direct conversion of epoxides to aziridines was achieved with guanidines as a nitrogen source. Stereochemical inversion at the chiral centers of epoxides was observed without loss of optical purity.
aziridinomitosene skeleton, a basic core of mitomycin antibiotics, was straightforwardly prepared from N‐(p‐toluenesulfonyl)indole‐2‐carboxaldehyde in 16% overall yield by successive reactions of guanidiniumylide‐mediated aziridination, InCl3‐catalyzed epimerization of trans‐3‐(indol‐2‐yl)aziridine‐2‐carboxylate, leading to the cis‐derivative, and dehydrative cyclization.
Abstract The scope and limitations of guanidiniumylide mediated aziridinations from arylaldehydes yielding unactivated 3-arylaziridine-2-carboxylates, applicable to asymmetric synthesis, are discussed. The scope and limitations of guanidiniumylide mediated aziridinations from arylaldehydes yielding unactivated 3-arylaziridine-2-carboxylates, applicable to asymmetric synthesis, are discussed.