10.1039/c3ra43878c
This study presents a novel synthetic strategy for the synthesis of N-tosylaziridines from alkenes using nanocrystalline zinc peroxide (ZnO2) and N-tosylimidotriphenylphosphine (Ph3P]NTs) as nitrene transfer reagents. The key chemicals involved are ZnO2 as a mediator for nitrene transfer and Ph3P]NTs as a nitrene source. The reaction forms a zinc oxyaziridine intermediate when ZnO2 reacts with Ph3P]NTs, which then reacts with alkenes to generate N-tosylaziridines in high to excellent yields. The study highlights mild reaction conditions, the versatility of this approach towards a wide range of olefins, and the potential for stereospecific addition of the intermediate nitrene to alkenes. Nanocrystalline ZnO2 was synthesized via a hydrothermal method and characterized using various techniques. This study demonstrates an alternative approach to existing catalytic routes for aziridination of olefins, offering facile synthesis, mild conditions, and higher product yields.