Stereodivergent synthesis of chiral 2-alkenylaziridines: palladium(0)-catalyzed 2,3-cis-selective aziridination and base-mediated 2,3-trans-selective aziridination.

Whereas treatment of the allylic mesylates of N-protected 2-alkyl-4-amino-(E)-2-alken-1-ols with sodium hydride in DMF yields exclusively the corresponding thermodynamically less stable 2,3-trans-2-alkenyl-3-alkylaziridines, exposure of the methyl carbonates of N-protected 2-alkyl-4-amino-(E)-2-alken-1-ols to a catalytic amount of Pd(PPh(3))(4) in THF or 1,4-dioxane affords predominantly the corresponding thermodynamically more stable 2,3-cis-2-alkenyl-3-alkylaziridines. The kinetically favored trans-selective aziridination would be attributed to the allylic 1,3-strain in aza-anionic intermediates. The conformational analysis of the sterically highly congested 2-alkenylaziridines thus obtained is also presented.

Relative stabilities of some synthetically useful 2,3-cis-disubstituted aziridines and their 2,3-trans isomers.

The relative stabilities of synthetically useful 2,3-cis/trans pairs of 2,3-disubstituted aziridines were investigated theoretically by performing molecular orbital calculations at the MP2/6-31G**/RHF/6-31G** level of theory. The results showed clearly that a functional group on the nitrogen atom of the aziridine ring plays a very important role in conjunction with the relative stabilities of these pairs of isomers. There is a tendency that the 2,3-cis isomer bearing tetrahedral structure on the aziridine nitrogen is preferable. Bulky substituents such as a phenyl group on aziridine atoms can also affect the relative stability sterically.

Synthesis of allenes from allylic alcohol derivatives bearing a bromine atom using a palladium(0)/diethylzinc system.

A general and efficient synthesis of allenes using a palladium(0)/diethylzinc system is described. Treatment of mesylates or trichloroacetates of (E)- or (Z)-2-bromoalk-2-en-1-ols with diethylzinc in the presence of a catalytic amount of palladium(0) affords allenes bearing an aminoalkyl, alkyl, or aryl substituent(s) in good to high yields. No transfer of chirality from the stereogenic center carrying the mesyloxy group to the allene was observed.

Reactions of N-Arylsulfonyl-2,3-cis- and N-Arylsulfonyl-2,3-trans-3-alkyl-2-vinylaziridines with Organocopper Reagents: Importance of 2,3-cis-Stereochemistry in Controlling Regio- and Stereoselectivity.

Although reactions of 2,3-trans-N-arylsulfonyl-3-alkyl-2-alkenylaziridines with organocopper reagents give a mixture of two or three products, the corresponding 2,3-cis-isomers provide a highly efficient route to synthetically important nonracemic (E)-allylamines. It is also found that the reaction proceeds via the well-known anti-S(N)2' pathway.

Palladium(0)-Catalyzed Isomerization Reactions of Aziridines Bearing an alpha,beta-Unsaturated Ester Group: A Thermodynamic Preference for Chiral Alkyl (2E)-4,5-cis-4,5-Epimino-N-(alkyl- or arylsulfonyl) 2-Enoates over the Other Three Stereoisomers.

Palladium(0)-catalyzed reactions of five sets of four stereoisomeric 4,5-epimino-N-(methanesulfonyl) or -N-(arylsulfonyl) 2-enoates reveal that 4,5-cis-(2E)-isomers are thermodynamically more stable than other isomers, in accord with calculations. A highly stereoselective synthesis of (E)-alkene dipeptide isosteres having the desired stereochemistries from unwanted stereoisomeric 4,5-epimino-N-(arylsulfonyl) 2-enoates is also presented.