Advances in the use of metal-free tetrapyrrolic macrocycles as catalysts

• Mandeep K. Chahal

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3085–3112, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.257

• -catalyzed aziridination of styrene (22) by chloramine-T (23, NaCl=NTs) as a source of nitrene in acetonitrile (Figure 5) [40]. No aziridine product was formed either without any source of copper or in the presence of a different copper salt, such as CuCl, CuCl2·2H2O, or CuOTf. Calix[4]pyrrole itself is

A review of recent advances in electrochemical and photoelectrochemical late-stage functionalization classified by anodic oxidation, cathodic reduction, and paired electrolysis

• Nian Li,
• Ruzal Sitdikov,
• Ajit Prabhakar Kale,
• Joost Steverlynck,
• Bo Li and
• Magnus Rueping

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2500–2566, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.214

• derived from the interaction of non-activated alkenes with thianthrene [24]. This procedure has the advantage of separating the oxidative activation of the alkenes from the aziridination step, allowing efficient access to a variety of aziridine building blocks containing sensitive functional groups. This

Asymmetric organocatalytic synthesis of chiral homoallylic amines

• Nikolay S. Kondratyev and
• Andrei V. Malkov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2349–2377, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.201

• 28–96%, whereas enantioselectivities remained modest (20–78% ee). To illustrate the synthetic utility of the products, a double Cu(acac)2-catalysed aziridination of the model substrate 109 was carried out using a large excess of PhI=NNs reagent (15 equiv, Ns = nosyl) to afford diastereoselectively

Hydrogen-bond activation enables aziridination of unactivated olefins with simple iminoiodinanes

• Phong Thai,
• Lauv Patel,
• Diyasha Manna and
• David C. Powers

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2305–2312, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.197

• general, transition metal catalysts are required to effect efficient NGT to unactivated olefins because iminoiodinanes are insufficiently electrophilic to engage in direct aziridination chemistry. Here, we demonstrate that 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) activates N-arylsulfonamide-derived

• iminoiodinanes for the metal-free aziridination of unactivated olefins. 1H NMR and cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies indicate that hydrogen-bonding between HFIP and the iminoiodinane generates an oxidant capable of direct NGT to unactivated olefins. Stereochemical scrambling during aziridination of 1,2

• -disubstituted olefins is observed and interpreted as evidence that aziridination proceeds via a carbocation intermediate that subsequently cyclizes. These results demonstrate a simple method for activating iminoiodinane reagents, provide analysis of the extent of activation achieved by H-bonding, and indicate

Predicting bond dissociation energies of cyclic hypervalent halogen reagents using DFT calculations and graph attention network model

• Yingbo Shao,
• Zhiyuan Ren,
• Zhihui Han,
• Li Chen,
• Yao Li and
• Xiao-Song Xue

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1444–1452, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.127

• applications [27][28][29][30]. For example, hypervalent bromine(III) reagents enable C–H amination and alkene aziridination reactions without the need for additional Lewis acid activation [31][32][33]. However, challenges in the synthesis and stabilization of cyclic hypervalent bromine and chlorine reagents

Nucleophilic functionalization of thianthrenium salts under basic conditions

• Xinting Fan,
• Duo Zhang,
• Xiangchuan Xiu,
• Bin Xu,
• Yu Yuan,
• Feng Chen and
• Pan Gao

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 257–263, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.26

• -stage C–H functionalization of arenes, Wickens’s group has introduced an oxidative alkene aziridination strategy that relies on thianthrenation of an alkene under electrochemical conditions [27]. Subsequently, cyclopropanation, [28] aziridination, [29] allylic C–H functionalization, [30][31] transition

Application of N-heterocyclic carbene–Cu(I) complexes as catalysts in organic synthesis: a review

• Nosheen Beig,
• Varsha Goyal and
• Raj K. Bansal

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1408–1442, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.102

• aziridination of alkenes was also investigated [32]. Cazin and co-workers reported the preparation of linear neutral NHC–CuCl complexes from the reaction of imidazolium and imidazolinium chlorides with Cu2O. Initially, dichloromethane was used as the solvent. However, except in the case of IMes and SIPr, the

N-tert-Butanesulfinyl imines in the asymmetric synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles

• Joseane A. Mendes,
• Paulo R. R. Costa,
• Miguel Yus,
• Francisco Foubelo and
• Camilla D. Buarque

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 1096–1140, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.86

Copper catalysis with redox-active ligands

• Agnideep Das,
• Yufeng Ren,
• Cheriehan Hessin and
• Marine Desage-El Murr

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 858–870, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.77

• a different matter. The Arnold group has elegantly shown that through iterative mutagenesis “directed evolution” enzymes can be coaxed to perform unnatural transformations such as C–N bond forming aziridination, which has no biological counterpart [33]. While the exact structure of the mutant

• aziridination with redox-active complex Cu(SQ)2 17 [37], originally developed as a GAO mimic. The reaction worked very efficiently under ambient conditions with N-tosyliminobenzyliodinane (PhINTs) as a nitrene source. The reaction mechanism was proposed to involve a transient mono-nitrene CuII intermediate 18

• % catalyst loading, bhomo-coupling adduct. Access to 1,2-oxy-aminoarenes by copper-catalyzed phenol–amine coupling. Copper-catalyzed aziridination through molecular spin catalysis with redox-active iminosemiquinone ligands. Nitrogen-group and carbon-group transfer in copper-catalyzed aziridination and

Asymmetric synthesis of CF₂-functionalized aziridines by combined strong Brønsted acid catalysis

• Xing-Fa Tan,
• Fa-Guang Zhang and
• Jun-An Ma

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 638–644, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.60

• chiral centers, pointing at a cis-aziridination process [46]. Scaled-up experiments with model substrate 1a also proved to be feasible, delivering the chiral CF2-aziridine 4a with comparable results (Scheme 3a). The 4-methoxyphenyl group of 4a was cleaved smoothly with ceric ammonium nitrate, giving the

• . Scale-up experiment to 4a and further synthetic transformations. Representative screening results of the asymmetric aziridination reaction of PhSO2CF2CHN2.a Supporting Information Supporting Information File 244: Experimental procedures, compound characterization, NMR spectra of all new compounds, and

Hypervalent organoiodine compounds: from reagents to valuable building blocks in synthesis

• Gwendal Grelier,
• Benjamin Darses and
• Philippe Dauban

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 1508–1528, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.128

• and PhI(OCOt-Bu)2. These λ3-iodanes have been widely used in atom-transfer reactions, particularly for the generation of metal-bound nitrenes that are highly active species for the aziridination of alkenes and the direct amination of benzylic, allylic or tertiary C(sp3)–H bonds [80][81][82][83][84][85

• ]. Seminal catalytic nitrene transfers mediated by λ3-iodanes [86][87][88][89] were described from iminoiodinanes of general formula PhI=NR that can be prepared mainly from sulfonamides [90]. However, the scope of catalytic C(sp3)–H amination and alkene aziridination reactions has been greatly enhanced

Dialkyl dicyanofumarates and dicyanomaleates as versatile building blocks for synthetic organic chemistry and mechanistic studies

• Grzegorz Mlostoń and
• Heinz Heimgartner

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 2235–2251, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.221

• aromatic systems. Miscellaneous reactions The oxidation of E-1a with H2O2 in acetonitrile gave oxirane 101, which subsequently was used for reactions with diverse nucleophiles [80] (Scheme 32). Upon treatment with diheptyl sulfide, 101 was transformed into ethoxalyl cyanide (102) [81]. The aziridination of

• ). Formation of disulfides through reaction of thiols with E-1a. Formation of CT salts of E-1 with Mn2+ and Cr2+ metallocenes through one-electron transfer. Oxidation of diethyl dicyanofumarate (E-1a) with H2O2 to give oxirane 101. The aziridination of E-1b through nitrene addition. Acknowledgements The

Pd(OAc)₂/Ph₃P-catalyzed dimerization of isoprene and synthesis of monoterpenic heterocycles

• Dominik Kellner,
• Maximilian Weger,
• Andrea Gini and
• Olga García Mancheño

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 1807–1815, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.175

• undesired competitive side-reactions such as the aziridination at this position [48][49]. However, the desired substituted 3-pyrroline derivatives of type 7 will permit additional functionalization, offering many synthetic possibilities. Encouraged by this, we employed the Cu(hfacac)2 catalyts as reported

Chiral phase-transfer catalysis in the asymmetric α-heterofunctionalization of prochiral nucleophiles

• Johannes Schörgenhumer,
• Maximilian Tiffner and
• Mario Waser

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 1753–1769, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.170

• -oxygenation reactions above, also the introduction of a nitrogen-based functionality alpha to a carbonyl group can be achieved by several complementary strategies. One powerful option is to carry out Michael addition-initiated aziridination reactions of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl acceptors [18][138][139][140

Three-component synthesis of highly functionalized aziridines containing a peptide side chain and their one-step transformation into β-functionalized α-ketoamides

• Lena Huck,
• Juan F. González,
• Elena de la Cuesta and
• J. Carlos Menéndez

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 1772–1777, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.166

• direct aziridination of an olefin [14] or the reaction of an imine with diazoalkanes. Alternatively, the reaction of imines with various nucleophiles, including aza-Darzens mechanisms, can lead to aziridine products [15]. However, few known methods allow the synthesis of C-trisubstituted aziridines

Copper catalysis in organic synthesis

• Sherry R. Chemler

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 2252–2253, doi:10.3762/bjoc.11.244

• been published in 2014. In point of fact, there has been a steady increase in publications on this topic since 1988. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the topics centered on copper nitrene reactivity (e.g., aziridination), copper carbene chemistry, conjugate additions and cross-coupling reactions

Recent advances in the electrochemical construction of heterocycles

• Robert Francke

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 2858–2873, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.303

• flask at −78 °C still renders attractive results, addition of dienophile to 58 and vice versa leads to significantly lower yields. Due to the synthetic usefulness of aziridines, the aziridination of olefins is of particular interest for organic chemists [3]. The three-membered aziridine ring exhibits an

• enormous strain and is therefore susceptible to ring-opening reactions with a variety of nucleophiles [3][4]. Such transformations lead to 1,2-heteroatom structures which are often found in pharmaceuticals and natural products. Yudin et al. described an electrochemical aziridination process where an

• model compounds via electrochemically induced Diels–Alder cycloaddition. Cycloaddition of anodically generated N-acyliminium species 58 with olefins and alkynes. Electrochemical aziridination of olefins. Proposed mechanism for the aziridination reaction. Electrochemical synthesis of benzofuran and

Application of cyclic phosphonamide reagents in the total synthesis of natural products and biologically active molecules

• Thilo Focken and
• Stephen Hanessian

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 1848–1877, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.195

• used for limited exploratory studies. Cyclopropanation and aziridination The cyclopropanation of α,β-unsaturated esters and lactones using chiral phosphonamide reagents is a special case of the conjugate addition–enolate alkylation sequence. The application of chloroallyl phosphonamides such as (trans

• 57 (Scheme 8) [62]. Thus, addition of the anion of phosphonamide 47a to tert-butyl glyoxylate O-protected oximes affords the corresponding aziridine adducts 57 in excellent diastereoselectivity in a Darzens-type reaction via intermediate 56. This aziridination methodology was then used in the

One-pot stereoselective synthesis of α,β-differentiated diamino esters via the sequence of aminochlorination, aziridination and intermolecular S_N2 reaction

• Yiwen Xiong,
• Ping Qian,
• Chenhui Cao,
• Haibo Mei,
• Jianlin Han,
• Guigen Li and
• Yi Pan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 1802–1807, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.189

• directly from cinnamate esters using N,N-dichloro-p-toluenesulfonamide and benzylamine as nitrogen sources. The key transformations include a Cu-catalyzed aminohalogenation and aziridination, followed by an intermolecular SN2 nucleophilic ring opening by benzylamine. The reactions feature a wide scope of

• , the reaction could be conducted in a one-pot model, under operationally convenient conditions [36][37][38][39] through Cu-catalyzed aminohalogenation, aziridination and intermolecular SN2 nucleophilic ring opening without isolation of haloamine intermediate (Scheme 1). Results and Discussion According

• to the previous reports on the derivatization of aminohalogenation reactions, the vicinal haloamines usually underwent elimination or aziridination reactions when they were treated with organic bases (Scheme 2) [33][34][35]. However, when benzylamine was added to haloamine 1a in acetonitrile, the

Synthesis of chiral N-phosphoryl aziridines through enantioselective aziridination of alkenes with phosphoryl azide via Co(II)-based metalloradical catalysis

• Jingran Tao,
• Li-Mei Jin and
• X. Peter Zhang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 1282–1289, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.129

• Jingran Tao Li-Mei Jin X. Peter Zhang Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, USA 10.3762/bjoc.10.129 Abstract The Co(II) complex of a new D2-symmetric chiral porphyrin 3,5-DiMes-QingPhyrin, [Co(P6)], can catalyze asymmetric aziridination of alkenes with bis

• (2,2,2-trichloroethyl)phosphoryl azide (TcepN3) as a nitrene source. This new Co(II)-based metalloradical aziridination is suitable for different aromatic olefins, producing the corresponding N-phosphorylaziridines in good to excellent yields (up to 99%) with moderate to high enantioselectivities (up to

• 85% ee). In addition to mild reaction conditions and generation of N2 as the only byproduct, this new metalloradical catalytic system is highlighted with a practical protocol that operates under neutral and non-oxidative conditions. Keywords: asymmetric aziridination; aziridine; chiral porphyrin

Formal synthesis of (−)-agelastatin A: an iron(II)-mediated cyclization strategy

• Daisuke Shigeoka,
• Takuma Kamon and
• Takehiko Yoshimitsu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2013, 9, 860–865, doi:10.3762/bjoc.9.99

• first-generation strategy employed a stereoselective thermal aziridination of azidoformate 2 and a subsequent aziridine-opening reaction to establish the vicinal trans nitrogen motif 4 [26]. The second-generation strategy involved the radical aminobromination of azidoformate 3 followed by lactamization

Preparation and ring-opening reactions of N-diphenylphosphinyl vinyl aziridines

• Ashley N. Jarvis,
• Andrew B. McLaren,
• Helen M. I. Osborn and
• Joseph Sweeney

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2013, 9, 852–859, doi:10.3762/bjoc.9.98

• similar to that of the initial reaction. In particular, the imine derived from furfural yielded only (E)-vinyl aziridine 4. In the case of the vinyl aziridination of 2,2-dimethylpropionaldehyde, an inversion in stereoselectivity was observed, with Z–5 being the dominant partner of the mixture (d.r. = 5:1

• . Optimization studies We next sought to improve the yields of the vinyl aziridination and thus modified our experimental rubric by carrying out the fusion of ZnCl2 under vacuum, rather than at atmospheric pressure. Using this minor modification, the reaction of N-diphenylphosphinylbenzaldimine furnished vinyl

Synthesis and ring openings of cinnamate-derived N-unfunctionalised aziridines

• Alan Armstrong and
• Alexandra Ferguson

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2012, 8, 1747–1752, doi:10.3762/bjoc.8.199

• -diphenylphosphinyl hydroxylamine. The resulting N-unfunctionalised aziridines are shown to be versatile synthetic building blocks that undergo highly selective ring-opening reactions with a wide range of nucleophiles. Keywords: amino acids; aziridination; organocatalysis; ring opening; stereoselectivity

• dihydroxylation, conversion to a cyclic sulfate, ring opening with azide, and finally ring closure to afford the NH-aziridine [18]. We recently reported [21][22] a nucleophilic aziridination methodology [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] that allows access to NH-aziridines in a single step from α,β-unsaturated

• aziridination methodology to access NH-aziridine-2-carboxylates in a single step from enoates. To the best of our knowledge, there exist only three examples of this transformation. Furukawa used diphenyl sulfilimine to form NH-aziridines from fumarate esters [32], and O-mesitylenesulfonylhydroxylamine (MSH) was

Intramolecular carbenoid ylide forming reactions of 2-diazo-3-keto-4-phthalimidocarboxylic esters derived from methionine and cysteine

• Marc Enßle,
• Stefan Buck,
• Roland Werz and
• Gerhard Maas

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2012, 8, 433–440, doi:10.3762/bjoc.8.49

• epoxidation, aziridination and olefination reactions [12][13] are common reaction channels. The intramolecular formation of sulfonium ylides from α-diazocarbonyl compounds tethered with alkylthio or arylthio groups has been studied by the research groups of Davies [14], Moody [15], and West [16]. From α-diazo

Isotopic labelling studies for a gold-catalysed skeletal rearrangement of alkynyl aziridines

• Paul W. Davies,
• Nicolas Martin and
• Neil Spencer

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2011, 7, 839–846, doi:10.3762/bjoc.7.96

• (Scheme 4). Reduction using lithium aluminium deuteride led to the insertion of the label at the benzylic position. Oxidation to the aldehyde followed by condensation with tosylamide afforded the deuterated imine 6. Aziridination using the sulfonium ylide generated in situ from 7 proceeded smoothly to