Versatile use of acid-catalyzed ring-opening of β-aziridinyl-α,β-enoates to stereoselective synthesis of peptidomimetics

Treatment of N-arylsulfonylaziridines bearing α,β-unsaturated esters with alcohols, thiols or weak acids such as AcOH in the presence of catalytic amount of Lewis acids affords regio- and stereoselectively ring-opened products, such as δ-aminated γ-alkoxy-(alkylthio or acetoxy)-α,β-enoates. In addition, the regio- and stereoselective ring-opening reactions can be performed on solid supports and applied to stereoselective synthesis of (E)-alkene dipeptide isosteres.