COMMUNICATIONS
room temperature in the absence of pyridine N-oxide, the
addition of the N-oxide to the reaction system resulted in a
good yield and enantioselectivity (72%, 85% ee) even at 08C.
In comparison, the aziridination of cis-b-methylstyrene was
not observed at 08C in spite of the presence of pyridine N-
oxide. In the absence of the N-oxide the desired cis aziridine
was obtained in a poor yield and with a low ee value at room
temperature. The addition of pyridine N-oxide improved the
yield of aziridine, but a remarkable change in the ee value was
not observed. The fact that the use of trans-b-methylstyrene
resulted in high enantioselectivity encouraged us to inves-
tigate the asymmetric aziridination of other trans-disubstitut-
ed alkenes. The reaction of trans-1-phenyl-1-pentene with 1
under optimal conditions afforded the desired product in
good yield (66%) and with high enantioselectivity (90% ee).
Even better results were obtained when trans-3-methyl-1-
phenyl-1-butene was utilized as the substrate. However,
aziridination was not observed when a more bulky alkene,
namely trans styrene with a tert-butyl substituent in the b
position, was employed in the reaction. It is noteworthy
that high stereospecificity was observed in all the aziridina-
tions of trans- and cis-1,2-disubstituted alkenes, although
Experimental Section
General conditions for aziridination reactions: Pyridine (0.25 mmol),
alkene (5.0 mmol), and solution of p-toluenesulfonic anhydride
a
(0.6 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (3 mL) were added to a solution of 1 (0.5 mmol)
and pyridine N-oxide (0.6 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (2 mL) under nitrogen, and the
mixture was stirred for 3 h. Pentane (15 mL), silica gel (400 mg), and celite
(400 mg) were added and the mixture was stirred for 0.5 h. The reaction
mixture was then passed through a 3-cm plug of silica gel with diethyl ether
(5 Â 15 mL) as eluent. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo, and the
residue purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (EtOAc/
hexane). Enantiomeric excesses of the aziridines were determined by chiral
1
HPLC analysis (Daicel Chiralcel OJ) or by using the H NMR chiral shift
reagent [Eu(hfc)3].
Received: July 10, 1998 [Z12126IE]
German version: Angew. Chem. 1998, 110, 3596 ± 3598
Keywords: asymmetric synthesis ´ aziridinations ´ manganese
´ nitrides ´ N ligands
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such reactions in the presence of metal catalysts and PhI NTs
did not always show high streospecificity.[4] In addition, the
allylic amination product was not produced in all the
reactions.
The present reaction was applied with the aim of using the
silyl enol ether to direct the asymmetric amination. The
amination, which is presumed to take place via an aziridine
intermediate,[6d, 12] proceeded smoothly to give the N-tosyl-
ated a-aminoketone in 76% yield and 48% ee (Scheme 1).
When 1 was tested under Carreiraꢁs conditions[6a] the N-
trifluoroacetylated a-aminoketone was obtained in moderate
yield and ee (58%, 79% ee).[13] These results are of signifi-
cance in that they suggest that additives such as Ts2O and
TFAA, which are used for the generation of the imido
complex,[5a] might control the aziridination with 1.
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TMSO
O
NHZ
*
a
Z = Ts
76%, 48% ee
58%, 79% ee
CF CO
Z =
3
Scheme 1. [a] Z Ts: 1 (1 equiv), pyridine (0.5 equiv), Ts2O (1.5 equiv),
pyridine N-oxide (1.2 equiv), silyl enol ether (10 equiv), CH2Cl2, 08C, 6 h;
Z CF3CO: 1 (2 equiv), pyridine (3 equiv), (CF3CO)2O (2.4 equiv), silyl
enol ether (1 equiv), CH2Cl2, 788C !RT, 3 h.
[5] a) J. T. Groves, T. Takahashi, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1983, 105, 2073 ± 2074;
b) J. T. Groves, T. Takahashi, W. M. Butlar, Inorg. Chem. 1983, 22,
884 ± 887.
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1996, 118, 915 ± 916; b) J. D. Bois, C. S. Tomooka, J. Hong, E. M.
Carreira, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 3179 ± 3180; c) J. D. Bois, C. S.
Tomooka, J. Hong, E. M. Carreira, M. W. Day, Angew. Chem. 1997,
109, 1722 ± 1724; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1997, 36, 1645 ± 1647;
d) J. D. Bois, C. S. Tomooka, J. Hong, E. M. Carreira, Acc. Chem. Res.
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The aziridination of styrene derivatives proceeds with a
chiral nitridomanganese complex 1 to give products in good
yield and with excellent enantioselectivity. In addition, this
methodology results in stereospecific aziridination. We also
conclude that additives play an important role in the reaction;
Ts2O was the most effective reagent in the activation of 1, and
the use of pyridine N-oxide was necessary to obtain high
enantioselectivity. Efforts to extend the scope of this process
to other alkenes are currently in progress.
[8] J. F. Larrow, E. N. Jacobsen, Y. Gao, Y. Hong, X. Nie, C. M. Zepp, J.
Org. Chem. 1994, 59, 1939 ± 1942.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 1998, 37, No. 24
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