Ring opening of 2-acylaziridines by acid chlorides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.tet.2006.06.025

Good nucleophilicity of the ring nitrogen in chiral (2R,1′R)-2-acyl-(1′-phenylethyl)aziridines initiated the reaction with various acid chlorides to form the corresponding acylaziridinium ion intermediates whose rings were opened by the chloride anion to

Full text of DOI:10.1016/j.tet.2006.06.025

Tetrahedron 62 (2006) 8844–8849
Ring opening of 2-acylaziridines by acid chlorides
c
d
d,
Yongeun Kim,a Hyun-Joon Ha,a,b, Hoseop Yun, Baeck Kyoung Lee and Won Koo Lee
*
*
aDepartment of Chemistry, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin, Kyunggi-Do 449-719, Republic of Korea
bCenter for Bioactive Molecular Hybrids, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
cDepartment of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 442-749, Republic of Korea
dDepartment of Chemistry and Interdisciplinary Program of Integrated Biotechnology, Sogang University,
Seoul 121-742, Republic of Korea
Received 10 May 2006; revised 8 June 2006; accepted 8 June 2006
Available online 24 July 2006
Abstract—Good nucleophilicity of the ring nitrogen in chiral (2R,10R)-2-acyl-(10-phenylethyl)aziridines initiated the reaction with various
acid chlorides to form the corresponding acylaziridinium ion intermediates whose rings were opened by the chloride anion to yield the b-ami-
no-a-chlorocarbonyl compounds. The subsequent displacement of the chloride with the internal oxygen nucleophile originated from
methylchloroformate, acetyl chloride, and methyl chlorooxoacetate yielded oxazolidin-2-ones, b-amino-a-acetyloxypropionates, and mor-
pholin-2,3-diones, respectively.
Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
withdrawing substituent including N-sulfonyl, N-phos-
phonyl or N-carbonyl, the ring is activated with release of
the electron density of the ring nitrogen as shown in N-acetyl
aziridine in Figure 1. This aziridine reacts with the nucleo-
phile to yield ring-opened products (Scheme 1).5 However,
aziridine with electron-donating substituent such as alkyl is
quite inert toward nucleophiles. Ring opening of this aziri-
dine requires the prior activation with a proper electrophile
including protic or Lewis acid to form the corresponding azir-
idinium ion shown in the bracket of Scheme 1 that reacts with
coming nucleophiles.6,7 Regiochemical pathway of the ring-
opening reaction is dependent to the substituent of R in
Scheme 1. Most of the reactions proceeded in the less hin-
dered position of C-3 to yield a-amino product. When R is
allyl, benzyl or acyl substituents, the breakage of the bond be-
tween C-2 and the ring nitrogen occurs to give the b-amino
product (Scheme 1).8
Aziridine, nitrogen containing three-membered ring, is
a cousin of oxirane with similar ring strain energy.1 However,
its property including proton affinity is quite different from
oxirane when the ring nitrogen has a substituent other than
simple hydrogen.2 Basicity of the ring nitrogen of aziridine
is dependent to the substituent whether it is electron donating
or electron withdrawing.3 Its difference would be observed
by the comparison of electrostatic potentials of N-methyl
and N-acetyl aziridines shown in Figure 1.4 Electrostatic
potentials of those two examples are very different not only
in the nitrogen but carbons of the aziridine ring.
Me
O
Me
N
H
N
N
O
E
EW(D)G
R
E
N
Nu
EWG
N
E+
Nu-
N
Figure 1. The chemical structures of oxirane, aziridine, N-methylaziridine,
and N-acetylaziridine and two electrostatic potential maps of N-methylazir-
idine and N-acetylaziridine.
+
Nu
R
G(D)WE
R
Naturally, the reactivity of aziridine is quite different whether
the substituent on the ring nitrogen is electron donating
or electron withdrawing.1 When there is an electron-
Nu-
EDG
N
EDG
N+
E+
E
R
R
(EWG = Electron-withdrawing group, EDG = Electron-donating group)
Scheme 1.
Keywords: 2-Acylaziridine; Acid chloride; Ring opening; Morpholin-2,3-
dione; Isoserine.
* Corresponding authors. Tel.: +82 31 3304369; fax: +82 31 3304566
(H.-J.H); tel.: +82 2 705 8449 (W.K.L.); e-mail addresses: hjha@hufs.
ac.kr; wonkoo@sogang.ac.kr
Many examples of aziridine ring openings were disclosed
only with electron-withdrawing substituents on the ring
0040–4020/$ - see front matter Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.tet.2006.06.025

Y. Kim et al. / Tetrahedron 62 (2006) 8844–8849
8845
nitrogen such as N-sulfonyl, N-phosphonyl, and N-carbonyl.1,5
However, they have certain limitations due to the paucity of
reliable methodology to accomplish free amine with removal
of N-substituents under mild condition. A few years ago, we
have succeeded multi-kilo scale production of the enantio-
merically pure aziridine bearing phenylethyl group at the
ring nitrogen.6 Their synthetic utility have been studied for
many years taking advantage of their regio- and stereoselec-
tivities of most reactions due to the rigidity of the aziridine
ring.6,9 Those aziridines represented by (10R)-(10-phenyl-
ethyl)aziridine-2-carboxylates are now commercially avail-
able in optically pure forms and are able to provide us
many enantiomerically pure a- or b-amino esters and their
derivatives.6 In this report, the reaction of the (10R)-(10-phe-
nylethyl)aziridine-2-carboxylate with acid chloride for the
synthesis of valuable cyclic and acyclic hydroxy amines
with important mechanistic implication of the aziridine
ring opening reactions is described.
we expected and the reaction proceeded with complete inver-
sion of the configuration during the attack of the coming nu-
cleophile. The reaction was successful at room temperature
under mild condition with wide scope of substrates such as
aziridine-2-carboxylates (1a, 1b) and 2-acylaziridines (1c–g)
and various acid chlorides including methylchloroformate
(2a), acetyl chloride (2b), and methyl chlorooxoacetate (2c)
to afford b-amino-a-chloro carbonyl compounds in 53–98%
yield (Scheme 2).
Acyclic b-amino-a-chlorocarbonyl compound was further
reacted in many ways depending on the characteristics of
R2 (Scheme 3). When R2 is OMe originated from methyl-
chloroformate (2a), internal nucleophilic reaction by oxygen
leads the formation of the oxazolidine-2-one ring (6) with
removal of the chloride as in Ia. The reaction pathway was
disclosed in our early study by the isolation of the acyclic
b-amino-a-chlorocarbonyl compound and by the stereo-
chemical outcome of the reaction product.10 However, the
initial product of ethyl (2R,10R)-[1-(10-phenylethyl)]aziri-
dine-2-carboxylate with acetyl chloride (4) is readily reacted
by the internal oxygen nucleophile with the replacement of
the chloride to make the possible dihydrooxazole ring com-
pound as shown in Ib. In the presence of small amount of
moisture in the air or in silica gel, the intermediate Ib was
hydrolyzed to yield (2R,10R)-1-acetyloxy-2-[N-(10-phenyl-
ethyl)]aminopropionate (7) in 75% yield. The removal of
the phenylethyl group by hydrogenation in the presence of
(BOC)2O and the subsequent hydrolysis provided (+)-(R)-
isoserine (9).11 Reduction by LAH after debenzylation of
a-acyloxy-b-aminopropionate (7) afforded (2R)-3-amino-
1,2-propandiol (10). In both of those two cases, the configu-
rations of the stereogenic centers were identified to be ‘R’
originated from the C-2 of the aziridine ring with retention
of the configuration. This stereochemical outcome supports
the double displacements with the inversion of the configu-
ration during the ring opening and the removal of the chlo-
ride as we expected from the early observation.10
2. Results and discussion
Ring-opening reactions of 2-acylaziridines with phenylethyl
group at the ring nitrogen proceed to yield aziridinium ion
for initial activation with the assistance of protic acid or
Lewis acid as an electrophile followed by nucleophilic attack
of the ring. The molecule bearing both characters as an elec-
trophile and a nucleophile is acid chloride that is able to
activate the aziridine ring and to provide the nucleophile
to lead the ring-opening reactions. At first, the ring nitrogen
of (10R)-(10-phenylethyl)-2-acylaziridines (1) is basic enough
to react with acid chlorides (2) to yield the aziridinium ion
(I) with the chloride free (Scheme 2). This aziridinium ion
shown in the bracket of Scheme 2 is highly activated and
ready to react with the coming nucleophile. The nucleophile
available in the reaction mixture is the chloride ion liberated
originally from the acid chloride during the formation of the
aziridinium ion. The acyclic b-amino-a-chlorocarbonyl
products (3–5) were resulted by nucleophilic ring opening
of the aziridinium ion intermediate by the chloride. Various
acid chlorides were applicable including alkoxychlorofor-
mate, acetyl chloride, and methyl chlorooxoacetate. All
ring-opening reactions were highly specific without detect-
able amount of regio- or stereoisomers. This implies that
the bond between C-2 and the ring nitrogen was labile as
When R2 was methoxycarbonyl originated from methyl
chlorooxoacetate all of the acyclic reaction products 5 were
stable enough to be isolated bearing the chloride at a-position
and to be kept at room temperature under air. Preparation
of acyclic b-amino-a-chloro compounds (5) was achieved
from either aziridine-2-carboxylates or 2-acylaziridines with
R2
O
Me
O
Me
O
Cl
O
+
R2
Cl
R2
R1
Ph
N
R1
Ph
N
Ph
N
R1
H
R2 = OMe
R2 = Me
2a
2b
Me
O
H
Cl-
O
2c R2 = CO2Me
1 = OEt, R2 = OMe
R1 = OEt, R2 = Me
R1 = OEt
3
1a
I
R
R1 = OMen
4
1b
1c
1d
1e
1f
1 = OEt, R2 = CO2Me
R
R
1 = Me
1 = Et
5a
5b
5c
5d
5e
5f
R
R1 = OMen, R2 = CO2Me
R1 = Me, R2 = CO2Me
R1 = Allyl
R
R
1 = C6H5
1 = C6H4(p-OMe)
R
1 = Et, R2 = CO2Me
1g
R1 = Allyl, R2 = CO2Me
R
R
1 = C6H5, R2 = CO2Me
1 = C6H4(p-OMe), R2 = CO2Me
5g
Scheme 2.

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Y. Kim et al. / Tetrahedron 62 (2006) 8844–8849
When R2 = OMe
Cl-
O
N
O
Me
+
O
MeO
Ph
O
O
Cl
Na2CO3
Ph
Ph
OEt
OEt
N
N
OEt
H
O
H
O
O
Ia
3
6
When R2 = Me
O
O
Me
Ph
O
Me
Cl
O
Me
OEt
O
H
H2O
N
OEt
Ph
Ph
N
OEt
N
+
H
Cl-
O
H
O
4
7
Ib
OH
H
OH
a) H2, Pd(OH)2
(BOC)2O
a) H2, Pd(OH)2
(BOC)2O
H2N
OH
H2N
7
(R1 = OEt)
CO2H
H
b) LiAlH4
b) HCl
9
10
When R2 = CO2Me
OMe
O
Cl-
O
O
O
Me
+ O
O
O
O
Ph
Cl
AgOAc
R1
N
R1
R1
Ph
N
Ph
N
H
H
O
O
O
5
Ic
8a R1 = OEt
8b R1 = OMen
8c R1 = Me
8d R1 = Et
8e R1 = Allyl
8f R1 = C6H5
OMe
HN
O
O
O
MeO
8g R1 = C6H4(p-OMe)
O
Cl
N
CsF
OEt
OEt
O
H
O
11
12
Scheme 3.
various substituents of R1 including OEt (5a), OMen (5b),
Me (5c), Et (5d), allyl (5e), phenyl (5f), and p-methoxy-
phenyl (5g) in high yields. Removal of the phenylethyl
from 5a was successful to yield 11 with methanesulfonic
acid and anisole10 while catalytic hydrogenation did not work.
Compound 11 was attempted to be cyclized with the removal
of chlorine using several different bases including NaH,
Na2CO3, Et3N, and CsF. Among them, CsF was the best to
afford a new (2R)-aziridine-2-carboxylate (12) as a single
isomer judged by chiral GC and HPLC in 62% yield. Its con-
figuration was possibly speculated as ‘R’derivedfrom double
inversions as observed in earlier cases for the preparation of
6, 9, and 10. This was further confirmed by the formation of
morpholin-2,3-diones in the next series of reactions.
Figure 2. The X-ray structure of (6R,10R)-6-ethoxycarbonyl-4-(10-phenyl-
ethyl)morpholin-2,3-dione (8a).
Asshowninthecasesofoxazolidin-2-one(6)anda-acetyloxy-
b-aminopropionate (7) from the acyclic chloropropanoates
(3 and 4), cyclization of 5 afforded morpholin-2,3-dione
(8) via nucleophilic displacement of chlorine by oxygen in
the presence of AgOAc. This cyclization proceeded well in
52–86% yield from diverse acyclic compounds 5 originated
from the early reactions of 2-acylaziridines (1) bearing vari-
ous substituents. The stereochemistry was identified by
the X-ray crystalline structure of morpholin-2,3-dione (8a)
obtained from ethyl (2R)-aziridine-2-carboxylate (1a)
(Fig. 2).12
The configuration ‘R’ at C-2 of the starting aziridine was
completely retained at C-6 of the final product 8a whose po-
sition was denoted by C3 in Figure 2. This tells us that the
reaction proceeds in double inversions during the aziridine
ring opening as in Scheme 2 and the internal cyclization to
form the morpholin-2,3-dione ring by the oxygen nucleo-
phile as in Ic in Scheme 3.

Y. Kim et al. / Tetrahedron 62 (2006) 8844–8849
8847
In conclusion, good nucleophilicity of the ring nitrogen in the
chiral (2R,10R)-2-acyl-[1-(10-phenylethyl)]aziridine initiated
the reaction with various acid chlorides to form the acylazir-
idinium ion intermediates whose rings were opened by the
chloride anion released from acid chloride to yield b-amino-
a-chlorocarbonyl compounds. The subsequent displacement
of the chloride with the internal oxygen nucleophile origi-
nated from methylchloroformate, acetyl chloride, and methyl
chlorooxoacetate yielded oxazolidin-2-ones, b-amino-a-
acetyloxypropionates, and morpholin-2,3-diones, respec-
tively. This is a new type of aziridine ring-opening reaction
based on dual role of acid chlorides as an activator of the
aziridine ring and a provider of the nucleophile for the azir-
idine ring opening.
Calcd for C15H21NO4: C, 64.5; H, 7.58; N, 5.01. Found: C,
64.3; H, 7.66; N, 5.25.
3.3. General procedure for reactions of either (2R,10R)-
(10-phenylethyl)aziridine-2-carboxylate or (2R,10R)-2-
acyl-(10-phenylethyl)aziridine with methyl chloro-
oxoacetate
To the solution of either (2R,10R)-(10-phenylethyl)aziridine-
2-carboxylate or (2R,10R)-2-acyl-(10-phenylethyl)aziridine
(1.25 mmol) in CH3CN under nitrogen at room temperature
was added methyl chlorooxoacetate (184 mg, 1.50 mmol).
The mixture was stirred for 1 h at room temperature and con-
centrated in vacuo. The mixture was extracted with CH2Cl2
and water. The combined organic extracts were dried, fil-
tered, and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification
by silica gel chromatography (EtOAc/n-hexane, 1:3) pro-
vided analytically pure product.
3. Experimental
3.1. General methods
3.3.1. Ethyl (2S,10R)-2-chloro-3-[2-methoxy-2-oxo-N-(10-
phenylethyl)acetamido]propionate (5a). Yield 89%. Liq-
uid. [a]D 55.2 (c, 1.0 MeOH); 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3)
d 7.33–7.58 (m, 5H), 4.96 (q, J¼8.4 Hz, 1H), 4.57–4.66
(m, 1H), 4.12–4.27 (m, 6H), 3.08–3.20 (m, 1H), 1.70 (d,
J¼6.8 Hz, 3H), 1.15–1.24 (m, 3H). 13C NMR (CDCl3,
50.3 MHz) d 168.1, 163.2, 163.1, 138.0, 129.0, 128.5,
127.3, 62.5, 56.7, 53.1, 53.0, 46.1, 18.0, 13.9. HRMS (EI)
calcd for C16H20ClNO5: 341.1031, found 341.1028.
1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian
1
200 (200 MHz for H and 50.3 MHz for 13C). Chemical
shifts were given in parts per million using TMS as an inter-
nal standard. Mass spectra were obtained using a Hewlett
Packard Model 5985B spectrometer or a Kratos Concept
1-S double focusing mass spectrometer. Elemental analysis
was taken on a Perkin–Elmer 240 DS elemental analyzer.
Melting point was measured by Mel-II capillary melting
point apparatus. Optical rotations were measured on Rudolph
Research Autopole 3 polarimeter. The silica gel used for col-
umn chromatography was Merck 230–400 mesh. Thin layer
chromatography was carried out with Merck 60F-254 plates
with 0.25 mm thickness.
3.3.2. (L)-Menthyl (2S,10R)-2-chloro-3-[2-methoxy-2-
oxo-N-(10-phenylethyl)acetamido]-propionate (5b). Yield
98%. Liquid. [a]D 18.1 (c 1.0, CHCl3); 1H NMR (200 MHz,
CDCl3) d 7.19–2.37 (m, 5H), 4.83 (q, J¼6.8 Hz, 1H), 4.65 (t,
J¼4.0 Hz, 1H), 4.25–4.41 (m, 1H), 3.31–3.48 (m, 2H), 1.90–
2.11 (m, 3H), 1.82–0.17 (m, 21H). 13C NMR (50 MHz,
CDCl3) d 168.4, 163.2, 163.0, 137.7, 129.0, 128.5, 127.6,
57.0, 52.8, 52.5, 47.0, 46.1, 40.5, 34.1, 31.4, 26.0, 23.3,
22.1, 20.7, 17.4, 16.1. HRMS (EI) calcd for C24H34ClNO5:
451.2126, found 451.2122.
3.2. Reactions of ethyl (2R,10R)-(10-phenylethyl)aziri-
dine-2-carboxylate with acetyl chloride
Into the solution of ethyl (2R,10R)-(10-phenylethyl)aziridine-
2-carboxylate (1a, 154 mg, 0.70 mmol) in anhydrous 20 mL
CH3CN, acetyl chloride (66 mg, 0.84 mmol) was added drop
wise at room temperature. This solution was stirred for 0.5 h
at room temperature until all the starting material was con-
sumed. The reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate
was evaporated under reduced pressure to yield yellowish hy-
droscopic solid, which is unstable at room temperature under
3.3.3. N-{(2S)-Chloro-3-oxobutyl}-N-{(1R)-phenylethyl}-
oxalamic acid methyl ester (5c). Yield 76%. Liquid. [a]D
43.4 (c 2.5, MeOH); H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.28–
1
7.54 (m, 5H), 5.01 (q, J¼6.8 Hz, 1H), 4.67 (t, J¼
6.6 Hz, 1H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 3.21–3.35 (m, 2H), 2.27 (s, 3H),
1.49–1.65 (m, 3H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3) d 201.6,
163.2, 162.9, 137.5, 129.1, 129.0, 127.6, 58.3, 57.0, 53.0,
44.8, 26.7, 17.3. HRMS (EI) calcd for C15H18ClNO4:
311.0924, found 311.0933.
1
air. Mp 86 ꢀC (decomposed). H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3)
d 7.34–7.65 (m, 5H), 5.59 (d, J¼10.2 Hz, 1H), 4.17–4.29
(m, 1H), 4.13 (q, J¼7.2 Hz, 2H), 3.18–3.22 (m, 2H), 2.30
(s, 3H), 1.93 (d, J¼6.8 Hz, 3H), 1.17 (t, J¼7.2 Hz, 3H).
13C NMR (50.3 MHz, CDCl3) d 170.5, 166.7, 135.4, 129.7,
127.9, 127.1, 67.0, 62.5, 59.0, 44.8, 21.3, 20.6, 14.0. The
above solid was dissolved in CH2Cl2 and was neutralized
by Na2CO2 solution. The resultant organic layer was washed
twice with brine and concentrated under reduced pressure.
Purification by silica gel chromatography (EtOAc/n-hexane,
1:3) provided 147 mg of analytically pure product (7) in 75%
yield. Liquid. [a]D 19.1 (c 0.5, CHCl3). 1H NMR (200 MHz,
CDCl3) d 7.26–7.34 (m, 5H), 4.06–4.32 (m, 4H), 3.83 (q,
J¼7.2 Hz, 1H), 3.23–3.28 (m, 1H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 1.39 (d,
J¼7.0 Hz, 3H), 1.27 (t, J¼7.2 Hz, 3H). 13C NMR
(50.3 MHz, CDCl3) d 173.0, 170.7, 144.7, 128.6, 127.3,
127.0, 66.0, 61.2, 57.8, 56.8, 25.4, 20.9, 14.3. HRMS (EI)
calcd for C15H21NO4: 279.1471, found 279.1477. Anal.
3.3.4. N-{(2S)-Chloro-3-oxopentyl}-N-{(1R)-phenylethyl}-
oxalamic acid menthol ester (5d). Yield 88%. Liquid.
[a]D 40.1 (c 1.0, MeOH); 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3)
d 7.19–7.42 (m, 5H), 5.02 (q, J¼7.2 Hz, 1H), 4.90 (q,
J¼7.0 Hz, 1H), 3.69 (s, 3H), 3.38–3.54 (m, 2H), 2.35–2.47
(m, 2H), 1.52 (d, J¼7.0 Hz, 3H), 1.01 (t, J¼6.5 Hz, 3H).
13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3) d 204.3, 163.2, 163.1, 138.0,
129.0, 129.0, 127.3, 57.7, 56.8, 53.0, 45.4, 33.0, 18.0, 7.7.
HRMS (EI) calcd for C16H20ClNO4: exact mass: 325.1081,
found 325.1085.
3.3.5. N-{(2S)-Chloro-3-oxohex-5-enyl}-N-{(1R)-phenyl-
ethyl}oxalamic acid methyl ester (5e). Yield 84%. Liquid.

8848
Y. Kim et al. / Tetrahedron 62 (2006) 8844–8849
1
[a]D 44.9 (c 1.0, MeOH); 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3)
d 7.18–7.43 (m, 5H), 6.86 (q, J¼7.0 Hz, 1H), 6.24 (d,
J¼15.8 Hz, 2H), 4.84 (q, J¼8.2 Hz, 1H), 3.85–4.09 (m,
1H), 3.79 (s, 3H), 3.61 (d, J¼6.6 Hz, 2H), 3.38 (d,
J¼6.2 Hz, 2H), 1.83 (m, 3H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3)
d 192.4, 163.3, 163.2, 146.6, 137.7, 129.1, 128.9, 127.9,
127.6, 57.2, 54.9, 53.0, 45.5, 29.0, 18.7. HRMS (EI) calcd
for C17H20ClNO4: 337.1081, found 337.0177.
[a]D 28 (c 4, 5 M HCl). H NMR (D2O, 200 MHz) d 3.45
(br s, 2H), 3.19–3.42 (m, 1H), 2.88 (d, J¼4.4 Hz, 2H). 13C
NMR (D2O, 50.3 MHz) d 70.2, 62.9, 42.2.
3.6. Ethyl (2S)-2-chloro-3-(2-methoxy-2-oxoacetamido)-
propionate (11)
To the solution of 5a (839 mg, 2.45 mmol) in CHCl3 under
nitrogen were added methanesulfonic acid (1.179 g,
12.27 mmol) and anisole (662 mg, 6.13 mmol). The solution
was refluxed for 4 h and then cooled to room temperature.
The solution was quenched by saturated NaHCO3 solution.
The aqueous layer was extracted with CH2Cl2, and the com-
bined organic extracts were dried, filtered, and concentrated
under reduced pressure. Purification by silica gel column
chromatography (EtOAc/n-hexane, 1:2) provided debenzyl-
ated product 11 as oil (308 mg, 53% yield). Liquid. [a]D
3.3.6. N-{(2S)-Chloro-3-oxo-3-phenylpropyl}-N-{(1R)-
phenylethyl}oxalamic acid methyl ester (5f). Yield 67%.
Liquid. [a]D 59.6 (c 0.9, CHCl3); 1H NMR (200 MHz,
CDCl3) d 7.89–8.04 (m, 10H), 5.75 (q, J¼7.4 Hz, 1H), 4.95
(t, J¼7.2 Hz, 1H), 3.86 (s, 3H), 3.61 (d, J¼7.6 Hz, 2H),
1.65–1.73 (m, 3H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3) d 193.2,
163.5, 163.2, 137.7, 134.2, 129.1, 128.9, 127.9, 127.5, 57.4,
53.0, 51.4, 46.0, 17.4. HRMS (EI) calcd for C20H20ClNO4:
373.1081, found 373.1088.
1
ꢁ22.0 (c 1.5, CHCl3); H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) d 4.39
(t, J¼6.4 Hz, 1H), 4.14 (q, J¼7.0 Hz, 2H), 3.85 (s, 3H),
3.73–3.89 (m, 2H), 1.26 (t, J¼7.2 Hz, 3H). 13C NMR
(50 MHz, CDCl3) d 168.0, 160.6, 156.7, 62.8, 54.0, 53.9,
42.8, 14.0. HRMS (EI) calcd for C8H12ClNO5: 237.0404,
found 237.0397.
3.3.7. N-{(2S)-Chloro-3-oxo-3-p-methoxylphenyl-
propyl}-N-{(1R)-phenylethyl}oxalamic acid methyl ester
(5g). Yield 81%. Liquid. [a]D 52.2 (c 1.0, MeOH); 1H NMR
(200 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.26–7.49 (m, 9H), 5.70 (q, J¼6.2 Hz,
1H), 4.92 (t, J¼7.0 Hz, 1H), 3.95 (s, 3H), 3.86 (s, 3H), 3.60
(d, J¼6.6 Hz, 2H), 1.59–1.69 (m, 3H). 13C NMR (50 MHz,
CDCl3) d 191.7, 164.4, 163.5, 163.2, 137.6, 131.6, 131.3,
128.8, 128.6, 127.9, 114.2, 57.4, 55.6, 53.0, 51.3, 46.3,
17.4. HRMS (EI) calcd for C21H22ClNO5: 403.1187, found
403.1179.
3.7. Ethyl (2R)-1-methoxyoxalylaziridine-2-carboxylate
(12)
To the solution of 11 (89 mg, 0.37 mmol) in CH3CN was
added cesium fluoride (70 mg, 0.44 mmol). The solution
was refluxed for 3 h and then cooled to room temperature.
The mixture was extracted with CH2Cl2 and water. The com-
bined organic extracts were dried, filtered, and concentrated
under reduced pressure. Purification by silica gel chromato-
graphy (EtOAc/n-hexane, 1:2) provided 31 mg 12 in 42%
yield. Liquid. [a]D 34.5 (c 0.5, EtOAc); 1H NMR
(200 MHz, CDCl3) d 5.31 (q, J¼7.0 Hz, 2H), 4.23–4.36
(m, 3H), 4.00 (s, 3H), 1.44 (t, J¼7.0 Hz, 3H). 13C NMR
(50 MHz, CDCl3) d 169.3, 157.1, 156.6, 62.2, 59.3, 53.7,
42.7, 14.0. HRMS (EI) calcd for C8H11NO5: 201.0637, found
201.0643.
3.4. (2R)-Isoserine (9)
To the solution of ethyl (2R,10R)-2-acetyloxy-3-(10-phenyl-
ethyl)aminopropionate (7, 450 mg, 1.61 mmol) in MeOH
were added (Boc)2O (530 mg, 2.43 mmol) and 340 mg of
Pd/C. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature
with atmospheric pressure of H2 for 12 h, and then the cata-
lyst was filtered. The solution was concentrated in vacuo.
This crude product was dissolved in MeOH containing 2 M
HCl. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 h under reflux.
The mixture was cooled to room temperature and concen-
trated under vacuum. The residue was purified by ion-
exchange chromatography on AmberliteÒ IR-120H (H+
form), eluting first with water and then with 5% NH4OH to
yield 128 mg isoserine in 76% yield. White solid. Mp¼
197–198 ꢀC. [a]D ꢁ32.1 (c 0.5, H2O); Lit.11b [a]D ꢁ32.1
(c 0.5, H2O).
3.8. General procedure for the preparation of morpho-
lin-2,3-diones (8) from either (2S,10R)-2-chloro-3-
{N-methoxyoxalyl-(10-phenylethyl)amino}propionate
(5a, 5b) or N-{(2S)-chloro-3-oxoalkyl}-N-{(1R)-phenyl-
ethyl}oxalamic acid methyl ester (5c–g)
To solution of 5 (0.91 mmol) in CH3CN was added silver
acetate (1.10 mmol). The solution was refluxed for 3 h and
then cooled to room temperature. The mixture was extracted
with CH2Cl2 and water. The combined organic extracts were
dried, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure.
Purification by silica gel chromatography (EtOAc/n-hexane,
1:3) provided 8 as oil.
3.5. (2R)-3-Amino-1,2-propandiol (10)
To the solution of 7 (279 mg, 1.0 mmol) in MeOH were
added (BOC)2O (327 mg, 1.50 mmol) and 213 mg of
Pd(OH)2. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temper-
ature with atmospheric pressure of H2 for 12 h. Then the cat-
alyst was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo.
Purification by silica gel chromatography (EtOAc/n-hexane,
1:3) provided oil whose solution in THF was added LiAlH4
(95 mg, 2.5 mmol) at 0 ꢀC. The mixture was filtered and
concentrated in vacuo. This was dissolved 2 M HCl solution
in MeOH and the resultant mixture was stirred for 1 h under
reflux. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and
concentrated under reduced pressure to afford 10 (29 mg)
in 32% yield. Viscous oil. [a]D 28.5 (c 0.5, MeOH); Lit.13
3.8.1. (6R,10R)-6-Ethoxycarbonyl-4-(10-phenylethyl)mor-
pholine-2,3-dione (8a). Yield 84%. Liquid. [a]D 87.4 (c 2.4,
CHCl3); 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.32–7.58 (m, 5H),
6.01 (q, J¼7.4 Hz, 1H), 4.91–4.94 (m, 1H), 3.82–4.12 (m,
2H), 3.48–3.72 (m, 2H), 1.47 (d, J¼7.0 Hz, 3H), 0.97 (t,
J¼6.8 Hz, 3H). 13C NMR (CDCl3, 50.3 MHz) d 167.4,
156.1, 152.7, 138.1, 128.9, 128.5, 127.7, 72.8, 63.1, 51.3,
41.1, 14.8, 13.7. HRMS (EI) calcd for C15H17NO5: 291.1107,

Y. Kim et al. / Tetrahedron 62 (2006) 8844–8849
8849
found 291.1115. Anal. Calcd for C15H17NO5: C, 61.9; H,
5.88; N, 4.81. Found: C, 61.6; H, 5.69; N, 4.87.
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the financial supports from the Korea
Science and Engineering Foundation (Program through
the Center for Bioactive Molecular Hybrids and R01-
2005-000-10032-0 to H.-J.H. and R14-2002-045-01002-0
to W.K.L.). Partial support of HUFS grant (2005) is also
gratefully acknowledged.
3.8.2. (6R,10R)-6-(L)-Menthylcarbonyl-4-(10-phenyl-
ethyl)morpholine-2,3-dione (8b). Yield 86%. Liquid. [a]D
7.3 (c 2.0, CHCl3); H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.24–
7.58 (m, 5H), 4.96 (q, J¼7.2 Hz, 1H), 4.64–4.72 (m, 1H),
3.64–3.82 (m, 1H), 3.32–3.47 (m, 2H), 1.82–0.17 (m,
21H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3) d 169.8, 167.9, 166.9,
138.7, 128.9, 128.8, 127.5, 78.0, 71.6, 52.7, 47.0, 40.5,
34.2, 31.4, 26.4, 23.6, 22.0, 20.7, 20.5, 17.0. HRMS (EI)
calcd for C23H31NO5: 401.2202, found 401.2211.
1
References and notes
1. (a) Tanner, D. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1994, 33, 599; (b)
Pearson, W. H.; Lian, B. W.; Bergmeier, S. C. Comprehensive
Heterocyclic Chemistry II; Padwa, A., Ed.; Pergamon: New
York, NY, 1996; Vol. 1A, p 1; (c) Osborn, H. M. I.; Sweeney,
J. B. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1997, 8, 1693; (d) McCoull,
W.; Davis, F. A. Synthesis 2000, 1347; (e) Zwanenburg, B.;
ten Holte, P. Stereoselective Heterocyclic Chemistry III;
Metz, P., Ed.; Springer: Berlin, 2001; pp 93–124; (f)
Sweeney, J. B. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2002, 31, 247; (g) Hu, X. E.
Tetrahedron 2004, 60, 2701.
2. Sapse, A. M.; Bunce, J. D.; Jain, D. C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1984,
106, 6579.
3. Ohwada, T.; Hirao, H.; Ogawa, A. J. Org. Chem. 2004, 69,
7486.
4. Two electrostatic potential maps of N-methylaziridine and
N-acetyl aziridine were generated from the calculation with
density functional model written in the commercial product
SpartanÒ 04.
5. Hu, X. E. Tetrahedron 2004, 60, 2701 and references cited
therein.
6. Lee, W.-K.; Ha, H.-J. Aldrichimica Acta 2003, 36, 57.
7. Lee, K.-D.; Suh, J.-M.; Park, J.-H.; Ha, H.-J.; Choi, H. G.; Park,
C. S.; Chang, J.-W.; Lee, W. K.; Dong, Y.; Yun, H. Tetrahedron
2001, 57, 8267.
8. (a) Hwang, G.-I.; Chung, J.-H.; Lee, W. K. J. Org. Chem. 1996,
61, 6183; (b) Bae, J. H.; Shin, S.-H.; Park, C. S.; Lee, W. K.
Tetrahedron 1999, 55, 10041; (c) Shin, S.-H.; Han, E. Y.;
Park, C. S.; Lee, W. K.; Ha, H.-J. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry
2000, 11, 3293; (d) Yun, J. M.; Sim, T. B.; Hahm, H. S.; Lee,
W. K.; Ha, H.-J. J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 7675; (e) Lee,
B. K.; Kim, M. S.; Hahm, H. S.; Kim, D. S.; Lee, W. K.; Ha,
H.-J. Tetrahedron 2006, 62, 8393–8397.
3.8.3. (6R,10R)-6-Acetyl-4-(10-phenylethyl)morpholine-
2,3-dione (8c). Yield 82%. Liquid. [a]D 64.2 (c 1.5,
CHCl3); 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.19–7.43 (m, 5H),
4.94 (q, J¼7.0 Hz, 1H), 4.61–4.74 (m, 2H), 3.48–3.61 (m,
1H), 2.28–2.35 (m, 3H), 1.55 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (50 MHz,
CDCl3) d 202.1, 178.2, 152.8, 137.5, 129.1, 128.7, 127.4,
79.1, 52.0, 40.3, 26.8, 15.1. HRMS (EI) calcd for
C14H15NO4: 261.2732, found 261.2736.
3.8.4. (6R,10R)-6-Propionyl-4-(10-phenylethyl)morpho-
line-2,3-dione (8d). Yield 60%. Liquid. [a]D 85.1 (c 1.0,
CHCl3); 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.16–7.44 (m, 5H),
5.04 (q, J¼7.4 Hz, 1H), 4.85 (q, J¼7.0 Hz, 1H), 3.66–3.81
(m, 2H), 2.53 (q, J¼7.0 Hz, 2H), 1.81 (d, J¼7.0 Hz, 3H),
0.93 (t, J¼7.1 Hz, 3H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3) d
206.5, 170.1, 163.4, 138.1, 129.0, 128.8, 127.5, 75.5, 52.9,
42.1, 33.0, 20.5, 7.1. HRMS (EI) calcd for C15H17NO4:
275.2998, found 275.3004.
3.8.5. (6R,10R)-6-But-3-enoyl-4-(10-phenylethyl)morpho-
line-2,3-dione (8e). Yield 52%. Liquid. [a]D 88.3 (c 1.0,
CHCl3); H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.11–7.32 (m 5H),
1
5.24 (q, J¼7.0 Hz, 1H), 571–5.84 (m, 3H), 5.03 (q,
J¼8.2 Hz, 1H), 3.91 (d, J¼6.2 Hz, 2H), 3.14–3.29 (m,
2H), 1.69–1.86 (m, 3H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3)
d 192.4, 160.3, 158.9, 137.1, 132.9, 128.6, 128.3, 127.7,
115.3, 91.8, 50.1, 46.5, 38.0, 21.7. HRMS (EI) calcd for
C16H17NO4: 287.1158, found 287.1151.
3.8.6. (6R,10R)-6-Benzoyl-4-(10-phenylethyl)morpholine-
2,3-dione (8f). Yield 72%. Liquid. [a]D 65.9 (c 1.5,
CHCl3); 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.93–8.21 (m,
10H), 6.15 (q, J¼7.0 Hz, 1H), 4.85 (q, J¼7.0 Hz, 1H), 3.80
(d, J¼4.0 Hz, 2H), 1.67 (d, J¼7.2 Hz, 3H). 13C NMR
(50 MHz, CDCl3) d 195.2, 170.0, 163.4, 138.2, 134.0,
129.0, 128.9, 128.8, 128.4, 128.4, 127.9, 127.6, 71.6, 52.9,
43.4, 20.4. HRMS (EI) calcd for C19H17NO4: 323.1158,
found 323.1150.
9. (a) Dong, Y.; Yun, H.; Park, C. S.; Lee, W.-K.; Ha, H.-J. Acta
Crystallogr., Sect. C 2003, 59, 659; (b) Noh, H.-Y.; Kim,
S.-W.; Paek, S. I.; Ha, H.-J.; Yun, H.; Lee, W. K. Tetra-
hedron 2005, 61, 9281.
10. Sin, T. B.; Kang, S. H.; Lee, K. S.; Lee, W. K.; Yun, H.; Dong,
Y.; Ha, H.-J. J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 104.
11. (a) Pons, D.; Savignac, M.; Genent, J.-P. Tetrahedron Lett.
1990, 35, 5023; (b) Lu, Y.; Miet, C.; Kunesch, N.; Poisson,
J. E. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1993, 4, 871; (c) Sengupta, S.;
Das, D.; Mondal, S. Synlett 2001, 1464; (d) Avenoza, A.;
Cativiela, C.; Corzana, F.; Peregrina, J. M.; Sucunza, D.;
Zurbano, M. M. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2001, 12, 949.
12. Crystallographic data (excluding structure factors) for the
structures in this paper have been deposited with the
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre as supplementary
publication numbers CCDC 295629. Copies of the data can
be obtained, free of charge, on application to CCDC, 12
Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK [fax: +44(0)-1223–
336033 or e-mail: deposit@ccdc.cam.ac.uk].
3.8.7. (6R,10R)-6-p-Methoxybenzoyl-4-(10-phenylethyl)-
morpholine-2,3-dione (8g). Yield 81%. Liquid. [a]D 81.2
1
1
(c 1.5, CHCl3); H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) d H NMR
(200 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.19–7.37 (m, 9H), 5.16 (q, J¼
7.2 Hz, 1H), 4.91 (q, J¼7.0 Hz, 1H), 3.79 (s, 3H), 3.34–
3.46 (m, 2H), 1.69 (d, J¼6.8 Hz, 3H). 13C NMR (50 MHz,
CDCl3) d 193.6, 170.1, 164.3, 163.5, 138.3, 131.5, 130.9,
128.8, 128.4, 127.7, 127.5, 71.4, 57.0, 55.6, 53.0, 20.5.
HRMS (EI) calcd for C20H19NO5: 353.1263, found
353.1265.
13. AldrichÒ catalog for (R)-3-aminopropandiol, No. 09267.