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Multi-substituted pyrroles are synthesized from regiospecific aziridine ring-opening and subsequent intramolecular cyclization with a carbonyl group at the γ -position in the presence of Lewis acid or protic acid. This method is highly atom economical where all the atoms of the reactants are incorporated into the final product with the removal of water. This new protocol is applied to the synthesis of various pyrroles, including natural products.

Aziridines, a class of reactive organic molecules containing a three-membered ring, are important synthons for the synthesis of a large variety of functionalized nitrogen-containing target compounds through the regiocontrolled ring-opening of C-substituted aziridines. Despite the tremendous progress in aziridine synthesis over the past decade, accessing contiguous bisaziridines efficiently remains difficult. Therefore, we were interested in synthesizing contiguous bisaziridines bearing an electronically diverse set of N-substituents beyond the single aziridine backbone for regioselective ring-opening reactions with diverse nucleophiles. In this study, chiral contiguous bisaziridines were prepared by organocatalytic asymmetric aziridination of chiral (E)-3-((S)-1-((R)-1-phenylethyl)aziridin-2-yl)acrylaldehyde with N-Ts-O-tosyl or N-Boc-O-tosyl hydroxylamine as the nitrogen source in the presence of (2S)-[diphenyl(trimethylsilyloxy)methyl]pyrrolidine as a chiral organocatalyst. Also demonstrated here are representative examples of regioselective ring-opening reactions of contiguous bisaziridines with a variety of nucleophiles such as sulfur, nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen, and the application of contiguous bisaziridines to the synthesis of multi-substituted chiral pyrrolidines by Pd-catalyzed hydrogenation.

Nitrogen-containing heterocycle aziridines are synthetically very valuable for the preparation of azacyclic and acyclic molecules. However, it is very difficult and laborious to make aziridines in optically pure forms on a large scale to apply asymmetric synthesis of aza compounds. Fortunately, we successfully achieved both enantiomers (2R)- and (2S)-aziridine-2-carboxylates with the electron-donating α-methylbenzyl group at the ring nitrogen as non-activated aziridines. These starting aziridines have two distinct functional groups-highly reactive three-membered ring and versatile carboxylate. They are applicable in ring-opening or ring-transformation with aziridine and in functional group transformation to others from carboxylate. Both of these enantiomers were utilized in the preparation of biologically important amino acyclic and/or aza-heterocyclic compounds in an asymmetric manner. Specifically, this report describes the first expedient asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of 5, 6-dihydrouracil-type marine natural products biemamide B and D as potential TGF-β inhibitors. This synthesis consisted of regio- and the stereoselective ring-opening reaction of aziridine-2-carboxylate and subsequent formation of 4-aminoteterahydropyrimidine-2,4-dione. One more example in this protocol dealt a highly stereoselective Mukaiyama reaction of aziridine-2-carboxylate and silyl enol ether, following intramolecular aziridine ring-opening to provide easy and facile access to (-)-epiallo-isomuscarine.

Bicyclic aziridinium ions were generated by the removal of an appropriate leaving group through internal nucleophilic attack by nitrogen atom in the aziridine ring. The utility of bicyclic aziridinium ions, specifically 1-azoniabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane and 1-azoniabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane tosylate highlighted in the aziridine ring openings by the nucleophile with the release of the ring strain to yield the corresponding ring-expanded azaheterocycles such as pyrrolidine, piperidine and azepane with diverse substituents on the ring in regio- and stereospecific manner. Herein, we report a simple and convenient method for the preparation of the stable 1-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane tosylate followed by selective ring opening via a nucleophilic attack either at the bridge or at the bridgehead carbon to yield piperidine and azepane rings, respectively. This synthetic strategy allowed us to prepare biologically active natural products containing piperidine and azepane motif including sedamine, allosedamine, fagomine and balanol in highly efficient manner.

Synthetically valuable chiral (aziridin-2-yl)oxirane-3-carbaldehydes bearing three consecutive functional groups including aziridine, epoxide, and aldehyde were prepared from the stereoselective epoxidation of (aziridin-2-yl)acrylaldehydes with H 2 O 2 using organocatalyst (2R)- or (2S)-[diphenyl(trimethylsilyloxy)methyl]pyrrolidine as organocatalyst. The regioselective ring opening of aziridines and epoxides enabled us to achieve the highly efficient asymmetric synthesis of the antibiotic edeine D fragment 3-hydroxy-4,5-diaminopenatanoic acid, an intermediate for the formal synthesis of non-proteinogenic amino acid (-)-galantinic acid, and for potent antifungal agent (+)-preussin, and the medicinally important framework 3-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethylpyrrolidine., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A divergent, new, and highly stereoselective synthesis of cis-2,6-disubstituted piperidine natural products including isosolenopsins, deoxocassine, and spectaline was achieved from chiral aziridine decorated with appropriate alkyl chains for isosolenopsins or alkynyl groups for deoxocassine and spectaline at C2. The characteristic feature of this synthesis is one-pot sequential reactions under atmospheric hydrogen including the reduction of alkyne (for deoxocassine and spectaline), reductive ring-opening of aziridine, debenzylation, and intramolecular reductive amination in high yields. The prerequisite aziridines were elaborated from commercially available (2S)-hydroxymethylaziridine through oxidation, Wittig olefination, and the Grignard reaction for isosolenopsins or substrate-controlled lithium alkynylate addition for deoxocassine and spectaline.

A chiral aziridine was utilized for the synthesis of the anti-bacterial natural amino acid L-(+)-furanomycin, and its analogues including 5'-epi-furanomycin and norfuranomycin. Key steps of this synthesis are the stereoselective Pd-catalyzed etherification for diallyl ethers and ring closing metathesis.

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines, such as biologically important azafuranoses represented by the natural product (+)-2,5-imino-2,5,6-trideoxy-gulo-heptitol and its C(3)-epimer, were elaborated from a commercially available enantiomerically pure (2R)-hydroxymethylaziridine by highly stereoselective directed reactions in more than 61% overall yield. At first, the nucleophile 2-trimethylsilyloxyfuran was directed to (2R)-aziridine-2-carboxaldehyde by ZnBr2 to yield the unusual anti-addition product as a single isomer via the chelation-controlled transition. The ring opening of aziridine was followed by conjugate addition to give a cis-fused bicycle, which was converted to the target molecule after the required reductive operations.

A new and efficient preparation of pharmacologically and biologically important 2,5-disubstituted 6-azaindoles was achieved from cyclizations of aziridin-2-yl dipropargylic alcohols as adducts of two propargyl groups to ethyl 1-benzylaziridine-2-carboxylate. The sequential cyclizations include pyrrole formation and a novel base-catalyzed intramolecular acetylenic Schmidt reaction.

In this critical review, the ring opening of non-activated 2-substituted aziridines via intermediate aziridinium salts will be dealt with. Emphasis will be put on the relationship between the observed regioselectivity and inherent structural features such as the nature of the C2 aziridine substituent and the nature of the electrophile and the nucleophile. This overview should allow chemists to gain insight into the factors governing the regioselectivity in aziridinium ring openings (81 references).

Alkylative ring-opening reactions of stable 2-substituted N-methylaziridinium ions proceeded with various alkyl- or arylmagnesium bromides in the presence of CuI to yield synthetically valuable and optically pure alkylated acyclic amines in a completely regio- and stereoselective manner. This was applied to a formal synthesis of the cytotoxic natural product tyroscherin., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

Heterocyclic analogs of ceramide as 3-alkanoyl or benzoyl-4-(1-hydroxy-2-enyl)-oxazolidin-2-ones were designed by binding of primary alcohol and amide in sphinogosine backbone as a carbamate. They were synthesized by addition of acyl halide to the common ring 4-(1-t-butyldimethylsilyloxyhexadec-2-enyl)-oxazolidin-2-one which was elaborated from chiral aziridine-2-carboxylate including stereoselective reduction and ring opening reactions as key steps. Other analogs with different carbon frame at C4 position which is corresponding to the sphingoid backbone were prepared from 3-cyclopentanecarbonyl-4-(1-t-butyldimethylsilyloxybut-2-enyl)-oxazolidin-2-one and straight and cyclic alkenes by cross metathesis. All compounds were tested as antileukemic drugs against human leukemia HL-60 cells. Many of them including propionyl, cyclopentanoyl and p-nitrobenzoyl-4-(1-hydroxyhexadec-2-enyl)-oxazolidin-2-ones showed better antileukemic activities than natural C2-ceramide with good correlation between cell death and DNA fragmentation. There is a drastic change of the activities by the carbon chain lengths at C4 position. Cytotoxicity was induced by caspase activation without significant accumulation of endogenous ceramide concentration or any perturbation of ceramide metabolism., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A general and facile synthesis of enantiopure 1-deoxyazasugars was achieved from stereoselective dihydroxylation of a common synthetic intermediate, piperidine ring fused oxazolidin-2-one, originating from a commercially available starting substrate, chiral aziridine-2-carboxylate, in high yields.

Ring opening of 1-arylmethyl-2-(cyanomethyl)aziridines with HBr afforded 3-(arylmethyl)amino-4-bromobutyronitriles via regiospecific ring opening at the unsubstituted aziridine carbon. Previous experimental and theoretical reports show treatment of the same compounds with benzyl bromide to furnish 4-amino-3-bromobutanenitriles through ring opening at the substituted aziridine carbon. To gain insights into the regioselective preference with HBr, reaction paths have been analyzed with computational methods. The effect of solvation was taken into account by the use of explicit solvent molecules. Geometries were determined at the B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level of theory, and a Grimme-type correction term was included for long-range dispersion interactions; relative energies were refined with the meta-hybrid MPW1B95 functional. Activation barriers confirm preference for ring opening at the unsubstituted ring carbon for HBr. HBr versus benzyl bromide ring opening was analyzed through comparison of the electronic structure of corresponding aziridinium intermediates. Although the electrostatic picture fails to explain the opposite regiospecific nature of the reaction, frontier molecular orbital analysis of LUMOs and nucleophilic Fukui functions show a clear preference of attack for the substituted aziridine carbon in the benzyl bromide case and for the unsubstituted aziridine carbon in the HBr case, successfully rationalizing the experimentally observed regioselectivity.

Candida antarctica lipase B catalyzed the stereoselective ammoniolysis of N-alkyl aziridine-2-carboxylates in tBuOH saturated with ammonia and yielded the (2S)-aziridine-2-carboxamide and unreacted (2R)-aziridine-2-carboxylate. Varying the N-1 substituent on the aziridine ring changed the rate and stereoselectivity of the reaction. Substrates with a benzyl substituent or a (1'R)-1-phenylethyl substituent reacted approximately ten times faster than substrates with a (1'S)-1-phenylethyl substituent. Substrates with a benzyl substituent showed little stereoselectivity (E=5-7) while substrates with either a (1'R)- or (1'S)-1-phenylethyl substituent showed high stereoselectivity (D>50). Molecular modeling by using the current paradigm for enantioselectivity-binding of the slow enantiomer by an exchange-of-substituents orientation-could not account for the experimental results. However, modeling an umbrella-like-inversion orientation for the slow enantiomer could account for the experimental results. Steric hindrance between the methyl in the (1'S)-1-phenylethyl substituent and Thr138 and Ile189 in the acyl-binding site likely accounts for the slow reaction. Enantioselectivity likely stems from an unfavorable interaction of the methine hydrogen with Thr40 for the slow enantiomer and from subtle differences in the orientations of the other three substituents. This success in rationalizing the enantioselectivity supports the notion that an umbrella-like-inversion orientation can contribute to enantioselectivity in lipases.

The ring opening of 2-substituted N,N-dibenzylaziridinium ions by bromide exclusively occurs at the substituted aziridine carbon atom in a stereospecific way, whereas the opposite regioselectivity was observed for hydride-induced ring opening at the unsubstituted position; furthermore, this unprecedented hydride-promoted reactivity was validated by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations.

The reaction of enantiomerically pure 2-substituted 1-phenylethyl-aziridine with methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate generated a stable methylaziridinium ion, which was reacted with various external nucleophiles, including nitrile, to yield synthetically valuable and optically pure acyclic amine derivatives in a completely regio- and stereoselective manner.

An efficient and highly stereoselective synthesis of D-ribo-(2S,3S,4R)-phytosphingosine was accomplished in 62% overall yield starting from commercially available (2S)-hydroxymethylaziridine via osmium-catalyzed asymmetric dihydroxylation as a key step.

Lewis acid-catalyzed ring expansion reaction of chiral aziridine-2-carboxylate proceeds regio- and stereospecifically to yield enantiomerically pure 4-functionalized imidazolidin-2-ones in high yields.

Various enantiomerically pure 2-acylaziridines were prepared efficiently from the corresponding aziridine-2-carboxylate via Weinreb's amide and the subsequent treatment of organometallic compounds. The carbonyl group of those 2-acylaziridines was stereoselectively reduced by NaBH4in the presence of ZnCl2 to give erythro-1,2-amino alcohols with high diastereoselectivities and chemical yields. Using this methodology, we prepared (1R,2S)-N-Boc-norephedrine 5, N-Boc-safingol 8, N-Boc-D-erythro-sphinganine 9, and N-Boc-spisulosine 10 in high yields.

α‐Aziridinyl carbenium ion as an intermediate was observed for the first time from the reaction of aziridin‐2‐yl arylmethanol with Lewis acid BF3 ⋅ OEt2. This intermediate was further reacted with various nucleophiles including electron‐rich arenes to afford the adducts in highly stereoselective manner as singly isomers. α‐Aziridinyl carbenium ion intermediate was observed spectroscopically as a crucial intermediate, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations show the origin of stereoselectivity based on thermodynamic preference for the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed an efficient and environmentally benign method for pyrazole synthesis by condensation between 2‐acylaziridines and hydrazine‐CO2 salts in high yields. The sequential reactions involved include an acid‐catalyzed intramolecular aziridine ring opening and a subsequent benzylamine elimination. In additional to the ease of handling the hydrazine as a solid without any smell, all of the processes were carried out with no organic solvent, except for a small amount of phenol as an acid catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of the stable form of 1-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane tosylate was successfully achieved from 2-[4-tolenesulfonyloxybutyl]aziridine, by stirring in MeCN at room temperature. The ring strain in the three-membered ring could be released through the cleavage of either C−N bond, but ring opening with various nucleophiles proceeded in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner. Two possible pathways, in which the aziridine ring was opened by nucleophilic attack at the bridge and the bridgehead, yielded piperidine and azepane rings, respectively. This selective transformation starting from chiral aziridines constitutes an efficient route for the asymmetric synthesis of biologically important natural products, such as fagomines, febrifugine, sedamine, hydroxypipecolic acid, and balanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two possible regiochemical pathways of aziridine ring opening, termed "regiochemistry-directed branches for 2-substituted aziridines" are described, providing easy access to two classes of compound from a common synthetic intermediate. Application of this synthetic strategy, with stereoselective dihydroxylation and reductive amination as the key steps, allowed the asymmetric synthesis of natural and unnatural polyhydroxylated alkaloids including the calyculin fragment C33-C37, 1,4-dideoxy- 1,4-imino-l-ribitol and analogues of hyacinthacine, swainsonine, castanospermine, and deoxynojirimycin. The initial domino reactions consisted of aziridine ring opening and debenzylation, and reductive double annulations were established for the preparation of bicyclic pyrrolizidine and indolizidine- represented by 8-deoxyhyacinthacine and (3R)- methyl-8-deoxyswainsonine-with remarkable stereoselectivity and in high yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aziridines, Carbenium ion, Density functional calculations, Lewis acids, Stereoselective arylation -Aziridinyl carbenium ion intermediate was observed spectroscopically as a crucial intermediate, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations show the origin of stereoselectivity based on thermodynamic preference for the reaction. Keywords: Aziridines; Carbenium ion; Density functional calculations; Lewis acids; Stereoselective arylation EN Aziridines Carbenium ion Density functional calculations Lewis acids Stereoselective arylation 1 1 1 07/21/22 20220701 NES 220701 B -Aziridinyl carbenium b ion as an intermediate was observed for the first time from the reaction of aziridin-2-yl arylmethanol with Lewis acid BF SB 3 sb -OEt SB 2 sb . [Extracted from the article]

1-[(1 R)-(1-Phenylethyl)]-1-azoniabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane tosylate was generated as a stable bicyclic aziridinium salt from the corresponding 2-(3-hydroxypropyl)aziridine upon reaction with p-toluenesulfonyl anhydride. This bicyclic aziridinium ion was then treated with various nucleophiles including halides, azide, acetate, and cyanide in CH3CN to afford either piperidines or pyrrolidines through regio- and stereoselective ring opening, mediated by the characteristics of the applied nucleophile. On the basis of DFT calculations, ring-opening reactions under thermodynamic control yield piperidines, whereas reactions under kinetic control can yield both piperidines and pyrrolidines depending on the activation energies for both pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "New Perspective on the Synthesis of Aziridine" by Jae-Hoon Jung and Hyun-Joon Ha is presented.

The article reports on the facile synthesis of N-Methylated Amino Acids from Chiral Aziridine-2-carboxylate. Topics discussed include popularity of N-Methylated amino acids, applications for its properties and the lack of protocol for its preparation. Additional topics discussed include requirement of activation of aziridine, dependencies of the regiochemical pathway of the nonactivated aziridine and the reaction through the activation of aziridine by methylation of the ring nitrogen.

Expansion pack: A stable form of 1 ‐ azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane tosylate was synthesized from 2 ‐ [4 ‐ tolENesulfonyloxybutyl]aziridine. Its ring opENings with various nucleophiles proceeded in highly regio ‐ and stereoselective manners with release of the ring strain by breaking either of the C−N bonds to form a piperidine or an azepane ring. Applying this selective transformation to chiral aziridines led to the asymmetric syntheses of biologically important natural products, such as fagomines, febrifugine, sedamine, hydroxypipercolic acid and balanol. More information can be found in the Full Paper by Hyun ‐ Joon Ha et   al. on page   1292 in Issue 9, 2017 (DOI: 10.1002/ajoc.201700080). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The nucleophilic substitution reactions of 1-[1′(R)-α-methylbenzyl]-(2R)- and (2S)-(sulfonyloxymethyl)aziridines were carried out with various nucleophiles including N3 −, MeO−, CN−, SCN−, and diarylcuprates. The reaction pathway is influenced by the stereochemistry of the substrates, nucleophiles, and also the structure of the leaving groups. When the reaction site is less sterically hindered for the reactive nucleophiles to approach to the substrate 1-[1′(R)-α-methylbenzyl]-(2S)-(p-toluenesulfonyloxymethyl)aziridines, product is obtained as a single isomer while all the other starting materials afford a mixture of two isomers from two different reaction pathways. Application of this method enabled us to prepare both isomers of orally effective antiarrhythmic agent mexiletine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Asymmetric syntheses of biologically and pharmaceutically important (−)-hygroline, (−)-pseudohygroline, and (−)-hygrine were achieved by a newly developed ‘ N -methylative aziridine ring opening reactions’ of (2 S )-methoxycarbonylethylaziridine as a key step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Asymmetric synthesis of MeBmt, an unusual amino acid constituent of cyclosporine A, was achieved from aziridine-(2R)-carboxaldehyde through the highly stereoselective addition of (E)-crotylboronate and the subsequent N-methylative aziridine ring opening as key steps. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The preparation of ( S )-3-methylamino-3-[( R )-pyrrolidin-3-yl]propanenitrile ( 1 ), a key fragment of fluoroquinolone antibiotic PF-00951966 and others was achieved by N -methylative aziridine ring opening, addition of methyl group at the ring nitrogen, and ring-opening via a cyanide nucleophile in a single operation starting from bicyclic ( R )-2-[( R )-pyrrolidine-3-yl]aziridine. The starting compound was elaborated from stereoselective conjugate addition of nitromethane to ( R )-aziridine-2-yl acrylate followed by selective reduction without breaking the aziridine ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ring opening of chiral aziridines (I) with Et3N·3HF gives both possible regioisomeric fluoroamines in ratios depending on the C-2 substituent in the starting aziridine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Preparation of functionalized 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines 17a–j from (S)-N-methoxy-N-methyl-1-[(R)-1-phenylethyl]aziridine-2-carboxamide 4 is an effective route for the synthesis of 3-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-4-ols. Stereoselective reduction of the cyclic imines 17a–j resulted in (1S,3S,4R)-4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl-oxy)-3-[(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)methyl]-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2-disubstituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines and the desilylation of the TBS groups afforded (1S,3S,4R)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2-disubstituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-4-ols 19a–i in good yields. Also, an asymmetric synthesis of novel tetracyclic 3-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-4-ols 23 and 25 was successfully achieved via Pd-catalyzed N-arylation and C–C coupling reaction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An efficient synthesis of 1,2,5- and 1,2,3,5-substituted pyrroles has been achieved from the sequential reactions including a ring-opening of 1-(aziridin-2-yl)propargylic alcohols by various nucleophiles under mild condition followed by an intramolecular cyclization using Ag(I) catalyst. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An efficient synthesis of enantiomerically pure aromatic-fused N-containing heterocycles was successfully achieved via Pd-catalyzed intramolecular C–N bond formation between the nitrogen originated from the aziridine and the halogen containing aromatic carbon. This reaction has a broad substrate scope to provide various enantiomerically pure (3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-3-yl)methanols, 2-hydroxymethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines and (1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxalin-2-yl)methanols from common chiral aziridines in good yields. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A formal synthesis of enantiomerically pure (−)-swainsonine was successfully achieved using intramolecular cyclization of the amino alcohol 4 which was derived from a readily available 1-(R)-α-methylbenzylaziridine-2-carboxylic acid (−)-menthol ester 6. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two regiochemical pathways of aziridine ring opening are described, providing access to two classes of compounds from a common intermediate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]