Highly efficient alkene epoxidation and aziridination catalyzed by iron(II) salt + 4,4',4'-trichloro-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine/4,4'-dichloro-4'-O-PEG-OCH3-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine

"Iron(II) salt + 4,4',4'-trichloro-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine" is an effective catalyst for epoxidation and aziridination of alkenes and intramolecular amidation of sulfamate esters. The epoxidation of allylic-substituted cycloalkenes achieved excellent diastereoselectivities up to 90%. ESI-MS results supported the formation of iron-oxo and -imido intermediates. Derivitization of Cl 3terpy to O-PEG-OCH 3-Cl 2terpy renders the terpyridine unit to be recyclable, and the "iron(II) salt + 4,4'-dichloro-4'- O-PEG-OCH 3-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine" protocol can be reused without a significant loss of catalytic activity in the alkene epoxidation.     

On the enantioselectivity of aziridination of styrene catalysed by copper triflate and copper-exchanged zeolite Y: consequences of the phase behaviour of enantiomeric mixtures of N-arene-sulfonyl-2-phenylaziridines

By synthesising S-2-phenyl-N-(4-nitrophenyl)aziridine from S-phenylglycinol, it has been demonstrated that the aziridination of styrene by [N-(4-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)imino]phenyliodinane (nosyliminophenyliodinane, PhINNs) in the presence of S,S-2,2'-isopropylidene-bis(4-phenyl-2-oxazoline), catalysed by copper(II) triflate in CH(3)CN solution or heterogeneously by CuHY, has predominantly an R-configuration. The enantioselectivity of the aziridination of styrene by [N-arenesulfonylimino]-phenyliodinanes catalysed by copper-exchanged zeolite Y (CuHY), in conjunction with a chiral bis-oxazoline ligand, has been re-examined. In the case of PhINNs, it is shown that the product mixture of enantiomeric aziridines, on treatment with hexane, gives rise to a solid phase of low enantiomeric excess (ee) and a solution phase of high ee. Separation of the solid phase and recrystallisation afforded a true racemate (racemic compound), which has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The aziridine obtained from the solution phase could be recrystallised to produce the pure enantiomer originally in excess. A consequence of the new findings is that previous reports on the enantioselectivity of copper-catalysed aziridination, both in heterogeneous and homogeneous conditions, should be regarded with caution if the analytical procedure involved HPLC with injection of the enantiomeric mixture in a hexane-rich solvent. Such a method has been used in previous work from this laboratory, but has also been used elsewhere, following the procedure developed by Evans and co-workers when the (homogeneous) copper-catalysed aziridination by PhINTs was first discovered. Evidently, the change of substituent in the benzenesulfonyl group reduces the solubility in hexane, affording a solution phase of enhanced ee.     

Asymmetric allylic oxidation reactions catalyzed by a chiral nonracemic and C2-symmetric 2,2'-bipyridyl copper(I) complex

The evaluation of a chiral, nonracemic and C2-symmetric 2,2'-bipyridyl ligand in copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric allylic oxidation reactions of a series of cyclic alkenes with tert-butyl peroxybenzoate is reported (up to 91% ee, the highest reported enantioselectivity for a bipyridyl ligand copper(I) complex to date).     

Catalytic asymmetric [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of sulfur ylides generated from copper(I) carbenoids and allyl sulfides

Catalytic asymmetric sulfur ylide [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of carbenoids generated from aryldiazoacetates has been investigated with a number of chiral Rh(II) and Cu(I) catalysts, and moderately high enantioselectivity (52-78% ee) can be achieved with Cu(MeCN)(4)PF(6)/2,2'-isopropylidenebis[(4S)-4-tert-butyl-2-oxazoline].     

Copper(II) triflate catalyzed amination and aziridination of 2-alkyl substituted 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds

A method to prepare α-acyl-β-amino acid and 2,2-diacyl aziridine derivatives efficiently from Cu(OTf)(2) + 1,10-phenanthroline (1,10-phen)-catalyzed amination and aziridination of 2-alkyl substituted 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with PhI═NTs is described. By taking advantage of the orthogonal modes of reactivity of the substrate through slight modification of the reaction conditions, a divergence in product selectivity was observed. In the presence of 1.2 equiv of the iminoiodane, amination of the allylic C-H bond of the enolic form of the substrate, formed in situ through coordination to the Lewis acidic metal catalyst, was found to selectively occur and give the β-aminated adduct. On the other hand, increasing the amount of the nitrogen source from 1.2 to 2-3 equiv was discovered to result in preferential formal aziridination of the C-C bond of the 2-alkyl substituent of the starting material and formation of the aziridine product.     

Expedient synthesis of cyclopropane alpha-amino acids by the catalytic asymmetric cyclopropanation of alkenes using iodonium ylides derived from methyl nitroacetate

A highly enantioselective (up to 97.5% ee) and diastereoselective (95:5 dr trans/cis) Cu(I)-catalyzed cyclopropanation of alkenes using phenyliodonium ylide generated in situ from iodosobenzene and methyl nitroacetate is reported. The cyclopropanation took place with high enantioselectivity for a wide range of alkenes, and the reaction was performed at room temperature. 1-Nitrocyclopropyl esters are versatile building blocks to access the corresponding cyclopropane amino esters and aminocyclopropanes in two and three steps, respectively, from commercially available products.     

Aryl iodide mediated aziridination of alkenes

[reaction: see text] Aryl iodide mediated aziridination of a variety of alkenes with N-aminophthalimide under mild conditions (m-CPBA, K2CO3, CH2Cl2, 25 degrees C) was achieved in moderate to good yields (up to 94%). By recovering the aryl iodide, a recyclable system is developed with product yield over 79% attained for the aziridination of trans-1,2-diphenylethylene.     

A unique and highly efficient method for catalytic olefin aziridination

A facile, high yielding, and stereospecific method for olefin aziridination is described. This process capitalizes on the unique reactivity of sulfamate esters in combination with 1-2 mol % Rh2(tfacam)4 and PhI(OAc)2 as the terminal oxidant to promote N-atom transfer reactions. A range of structurally and electronically disparate alkenes are found to react under conditions that employ substrate as the limiting reagent and only a slight excess of H2NSO3CH2CCl3 as the nitrogen source. The product alkoxysulfonyl aziridines are useful intermediates that react smoothly with nucleophiles to generate 1,2-amine derivatives. Following aziridine ring-opening, the N-trichloroethoxysulfonyl group can be removed under mild reductive conditions (Zn(Cu)/AcOH-MeOH) to give the corresponding 1 degrees amine. The efficient and convenient performance of this chemistry should establish it as a useful tool for synthesis.     

Copper(I) Complexes of Bithiazoles

Several new copper(I) complexes of a group of bidentate bithiazole ligands have been isolated. The compounds prepared are bis(2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-bithiazole)copper(I) perchlorate ([Cu(me-b)₂]ClO₄), bis(4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bithiazole)copper(I) perchlorate ([Cu(me-i)₂]ClO₄), bis(2,2′-diphenyl-4,4′-bithiazole) copper(I) perchlorate ([Cu(ph-b)₂]ClO₄), bis(4,4′-diphenyl-2,2′-bithiazole)copper(I) perchlorate ([Cu(ph-i)₂]ClO₄), bis(4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenyl-2,2′-bithiazole)-copper(I) perchlorate ([Cu(ph₄-i)₂]ClO₄, bis(2,2′-bithiazole)copper(l) perchlorate ([Cu(i)₂]CIO₄), 2,2′-bithiazolecopper(I) perchlorate ([Cu(i)ClO₄), (2,2′-bithiazole)bis(triphenylphosphinesulfide)copper(I) perchlorate ([Cu(i)(SPph₃)₂]ClO₄,(2,2′-bithiazole)bis-( triphenylphosphine)copper(I) perchlorate ([Cu(i)(Pph₃)₂]ClO₄), and (4,4′-bithiazole)bis(triphenylphosphine) copper(I) perchlorate ([Cu(b)(Pph₃)₂]ClO₄). Several synthetic techniques were required including one developed in this work which involved the conversion of [Cu(Pph₃)₄]ClO₄ into the thiophosphine complex by reaction with sulfur and subsequent use of this as a labile precursor complex. Optical spectra of the complexes indicate extensive solution dissociation. Several of the complexes ([Cu(ph-b)₂]ClO₄, [Cu(ph-i)₂]CIO₄, and [Cu(i)(Pph₃]ClO₄) were photoluminescent in the solid; one ([Cu(ph-b)₂]ClO₄) showed extensive loss of emission during irradiation. Most of the complexes prepared here appear to bind through the thiazole nitrogen atoms. However, infrared evidence suggests that in two of the complexes thiazole sulfur atoms participate in the bonding.     

Physical parameters and electron-transfer kinetics of the copper(II/I) complex with the macrocyclic sexadentate ligand [18]aneS6

The electron-transfer kinetics of the complex formed by copper(II/I) with the sexadentate macrocyclic ligand 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexathiacyclooctadecane ([18]aneS6) have been measured in acetonitrile with a series of three oxidizing agents and three reducing agents. These studies have been supplemented by determinations of the redox potential and the stability constants of the Cu(I)- and Cu(II)([18]aneS6) complexes in both acetonitrile and aqueous solution. The Marcus cross relationship has been applied to the cross-reaction rate constants for the six reactions studied to resolve the electron self-exchange rate constant for the Cu(II/I)([18]aneS6) complex. An average value of k11 = 3 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1) was obtained at 25 degrees C, mu = 0.10 M in acetonitrile. This value is approximately 2 orders of magnitude smaller than the values reported previously for the corresponding Cu(II/I) complexes with the quadridentate and quinquedentate homoleptic homologues having all ethylene bridges, namely, 1,4,7,10-tetrathiacyclododecane ([12]aneS4) and 1,4,7,10,13-pentathiacyclopentadecane ([15]aneS5). This significant difference in reactivity is attributed to the greater rearrangement in the geometry of the inner-coordination sphere that accompanies electron transfer in the Cu(II/I)([18]aneS6) system, wherein two Cu-S bonds are ruptured upon reduction. In contrast to other Cu(II/I) complexes with macrocyclic polythiaethers that have self-exchange rate constants within the same range, no evidence for conformationally gated electron transfer was observed, even in the case of the most rapid oxidation reaction studied.     

Copper(I/II) complexes of a bis(tetrathiafulvalene)-2,2'-bipyridine: synthesis, characterization, magnetic and electrochemical properties

The coordination ability of the electroactive TTF-based chelating ligand 5,5'-bis(4,5-bis(thiomethyl)-4'-carbamoyltetrathiafulvalene)-2,2'-bipyridine (L) has been tested with Cu(I) and Cu(II) centres. [(L)2Cu(I)](PF6), [(L)2Cu(II)](OTf)2 and [(L)Cu(II)(DMF)3](OTf)2 have been synthesized. A single-crystal X-ray analysis was performed on [(L)Cu(II)(DMF)3](OTf)2, showing a distorted octahedral geometry around the Cu(II) centre, and the formation of dimeric units in the solid state through weak coordination in apical position of an amide oxygen atom from a neighbouring complex. Magnetic data show that the paramagnetic metallic centres are isolated, in agreement with the solid-state structure. Electrochemical measurements were performed on the three complexes and in all cases the Cu(I)/Cu(II) and TTF/TTF+*/TTF2+ redox processes were observed.     

New terpyridine-containing macrocycle for the assembly of dimeric Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes coupled by bridging hydroxide anions and pi-stacking interactions

The synthesis of the new terpyridine-containing macrocycle 2,5,8,11,14-pentaaza[15](6,6' ')cyclo(2,2':6',2' ')terpyridinophane (L) is reported. The ligand contains a pentaamine chain linking the 6,6' ' positions of a terpyridine unit. A potentiometric, (1)H NMR, UV-vis spectrophotometric and fluorescence emission study on the acid-base properties of L in aqueous solutions shows that the first four protonation steps occur on the polyamine chain, whereas the terpyridine nitrogens are involved in proton binding only at strongly acidic pH values. L can form both mono- and dinuclear Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) complexes in aqueous solution. The crystal structures of the Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes ([ZnLH](2)(micro-OH))(ClO(4))(5) (6) and ([CdLH](2)(micro-Br))(ClO(4))(5).4H(2)O (7) show that two mononuclear [MLH](3+) units are coupled by a bridging anion (OH(-) in 6 and Br(-) in 7) and pi-stacking interactions between the terpyridine moieties. A potentiometric and spectrophotometric study shows that in the case of Cu(II) and Zn(II) the dimeric assemblies are also formed in aqueous solution containing the ligand and the metals in a 1:1 molar ratio. Protonation of the complexes or the addition of a second metal ion leads to the disruption of the dimers due to the increased electrostatic repulsions between the two monomeric units.     

Ligand Reprogramming in Dinuclear Helicate Complexes: A Consequence of Allosteric or Electrostatic Effects?

The ditopic ligand 6,6'-bis(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-3,3'-([18]crown-6)-2,2'-bipyridine (L(1)) contains both a potentially tetradentate pyridyl-thiazole (py-tz) N-donor chain and an additional "external" crown ether binding site which spans the central 2,2'-bipyridine unit. In polar solvents (MeCN, MeNO(2)) this ligand forms complexes with Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II) and Cu(I) ions via coordination of the N donors to the metal ion. Reaction with both Hg(II) and Cu(I) ions results in the self-assembly of dinuclear double-stranded helicate complexes. The ligands are partitioned by rotation about the central py--py bond, such that each can coordinate to both metals as a bis-bidentate donor ligand. With Zn(II) ions a single-stranded mononuclear species is formed in which one ligand coordinates the metal ion in a planar tetradentate fashion. Reaction with Cd(II) ions gives rise to an equilibrium between both the dinuclear double-stranded helicate and the mononuclear species. These complexes can further coordinate s-block metal cations via the remote crown ether O-donor domains; a consequence of which are some remarkable changes in the binding modes of the N-donor domains. Reaction of the Hg(II)- or Cd(II)-containing helicate with either Ba(2+) or Sr(2+) ions effectively reprogrammes the ligand to form only the single-stranded heterobinuclear complexes [MM'(L(1))](4+) (M=Hg(II), Cd(II); M'=Ba(2+), Sr(2+)), where the transition and s-block cations reside in the N- and O-donor sites, respectively. In contrast, the same ions have only a minor structural impact on the Zn(II) species, which already exists as a single-stranded mononuclear complex. Similar reactions with the Cd(II) system result in a shift in equilibrium towards the single-stranded species, the extent of which depends on the size and charge of the s-block cation in question. Reaction of the dicopper(I) double-stranded helicate with Ba(2+) shows that the dinuclear structure still remains intact but the pitch length is significantly increased.     

Cu(I) beta-diketiminates for alkene aziridination: reversible Cu-arene binding and catalytic nitrene transfer from PhI=NTs

beta-Diketiminato Cu(I)-lutidine complexes [RMeNN]Cu(2,4-lutidine) (R = Me (4a), (i)Pr (4b)) were prepared in high yield from Tl[RMeNN] and [CuBr(2,4-lutidine)(2)](2). Both 4a and 4b reversibly dissociate lutidine base in toluene to give [RMeNN]Cu(toluene) solvento complexes. A related base-free dicopper species [[Me(2)NN]Cu](2) (6) bridged via eta(2)-binding of opposing N-aryl rings could be isolated by the addition of Tl[Me(2)NN] to CuBr. The lutidine precursors serve as precatalysts for the aziridination of alkenes with PhI=NTs. Styrene, beta-methylstyrene, and cyclooctene gave the highest yields (59-96%) with a low olefin to PhI=NTs ratio (3:1) and 5 mol % catalyst loading.     

Tertiary amine-promoted enone aziridination: investigations into factors influencing enantioselective induction

trans-N-Unsubstituted aziridines were synthesised (up to 77% ee) via a chiral tertiary amine-promoted nucleophilic aziridination of α,β-unsaturated ketones utilising in situ generated N–N ylides (aminimines). A wide range of chiral tertiary amines were synthesised and evaluated, allowing structure–activity relationships to be drawn. The most efficient promoter for asymmetric aziridination, quinine, was assessed with several enones to ascertain the effect of substrate structure on product ee, while the intermediate hydrazinium salt was characterised by X-ray crystallography.     

Intramolecular Radical Aziridination of Allylic Sulfamoyl Azides by Cobalt(II)‐Based Metalloradical Catalysis: Effective Construction of Strained Heterobicyclic Structures

Cobalt(II)‐based metalloradical catalysis (MRC) has been successfully applied for effective construction of the highly strained 2‐sulfonyl‐1,3‐diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane structures in high yields through intramolecular radical aziridination of allylic sulfamoyl azides. The resulting [3.1.0] bicyclic aziridines prove to be versatile synthons for the preparation of a diverse range of 1,2‐ and 1,3‐diamine derivatives by selective ring‐opening reactions. As a demonstration of its application for target synthesis, the metalloradical intramolecular aziridination reaction has been incorporated as a key step for efficient synthesis of a potent neurokinin 1 (NK₁) antagonist in 60 % overall yield.     

New discrete and polymeric supramolecular architectures derived from dinuclear (bis-beta-diketonato)copper(II) metallocycles

New examples of adducts between di- (and, in one instance, tetra-) functional nitrogen ligands and planar 'platform-like' dinuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu2L2], incorporating the 1,3-aryl linked bis-beta-diketonato bridging ligand 1,1'-(1,3-phenylene)-bis(4,4-dimethylpentane-1,3-dione) (H2L) have been synthesised. The X-ray structures of six adduct species are reported. The interaction of [Cu2(L)2] with the ditopic ligand aminopyrazine (apyz) yielded the sandwich-like tetranuclear species [(Cu2L2(apyz))2]. A variable-temperature magnetochemical investigation of this product indicated weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the (five-coordinate) copper centres, mediated by the 2-aminopyrazine linkers. An analogous structure, [(Cu2L2(dabco))2] (dabco=1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane), was generated when dabco was substituted for aminopyrazine while use of 4,4'-dipyridyl sulfide (dps) and 4,4'-(1,3-xylylene)-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazole) (xbp) as the ditopic 'spacer' ligands resulted in polymeric species of type [Cu2L2(dps)]n and [Cu2L2(xbp)]n, respectively. These latter species exist as one-dimensional chain structures in which copper(II) centres on different dinuclear platforms are linked in a 'zigzag' fashion. In contrast, with 2,2'-dipyridylamine (dpa) a discrete complex of type [Cu2L2(dpa)2] formed in which one potential pyridyl donor from each 2,2'-dipyridylamine ligand remains uncoordinated. The use of the potentially quadruply-bridging hexamethylenetetramine (hmt) ligand as the linker unit was found to give rise to an unusual two-dimensional polymeric motif of type [(Cu2(L2)2)3(hmt)2]n. The product takes the form of a (6,3) network, incorporating triply bridging hexamethylenetetramine units.     

Copper(II) complexes of pyridyl-appended diazacycloalkanes: synthesis, characterization, and application to catalytic olefin aziridination

As part of an ongoing effort to rationally design new copper catalysts for olefin aziridination, a family of copper(II) complexes derived from new tetradentate macrocyclic ligands are synthesized, characterized both in the solid state and in solution, and screened for catalytic nitrene transfer reactivity with a representative set of olefins. The pyridylmethyl-appended diazacycloalkane ligands L6(py)2, L7(py)2, and L8(py)2 are prepared by alkylation of the appropriate diazacycloalkane (piperazine, homopiperazine, or diazacyclooctane) with picolyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine. The ligands are metalated with Cu(ClO4)(2).6H2O to provide the complexes [(L6(py)2)Cu(OClO3)]ClO4 (1), [(L7(py)2)Cu(OClO3)]ClO4 (2), and [(L8(py)2)Cu](ClO4)2 (3), which, after metathesis with NH4PF6 in CH3CN, afford [(L6(py)2)Cu(CH3CN)](PF6)2 (4), [(L7(py)2)Cu(CH3CN)](PF6)2 (5), and [(L8(py)2)Cu](PF6)2 (6). All six complexes are characterized by X-ray crystallography, which reveals that complexes supported by L6(py)2 and L7(py)2 (1, 2, 4, 5) adopt square-pyramidal geometries, while complexes 3 and 6, ligated by L8(py)2 feature tetracoordinate, distorted-square-planar copper ions. Tetragonal geometries in solution and d(x2 - y2), ground states are confirmed for the complexes by a combination of UV-visible and EPR spectroscopies. The divergent flexibility of the three supporting ligands influences the Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox potentials within the family, such that the complexes supported by the larger ligands L7(py)2 and L8(py)2 (5 and 6) exhibit quasi-reversible electron transfer processes (E1/2 approximately -0.2 V vs Ag/AgCl), while the complex supported by L6(py)2 (4), which imposes a rigid tetragonal geometry upon the central copper(II) ion, is irreversibly reduced in CH3CN solution. Complexes 4-6 are efficient catalysts (in 5 mol % amounts) for the aziridination of styrene with the iodinane PhINTs (in 80-90% yields vs PhINTs), while only 4 exhibits significant catalytic nitrene transfer reactivity with 1-hexene and cyclooctene.     

Metalloporphyrin-mediated asymmetric nitrogen-atom transfer to hydrocarbons: aziridination of alkenes and amidation of saturated C-H bonds catalyzed by chiral ruthenium and manganese porphyrins

Chiral metalloporphyrins [Mn(Por*)(OH)(MeOH)] (1) and [Ru(Por*)(CO)(EtOH)] (2) catalyze asymmetric aziridination of aromatic alkenes and asymmetric amidation of benzylic hydrocarbons to give moderate enantiomeric excesses. The mass balance in these nitrogen-atom-transfer processes has been examined. With PhI=NTs as the nitrogen source, the aziridination of styrenes, trans-stilbene, 2-vinylnaphthalene, indene, and 2,2-dimethylchromene catalyzed by complex 1 or 2 resulted in up to 99 % substrate conversions and up to 94 % aziridine selectivities, whereas the amidation of ethylbenzenes, indan, tetralin, 1-, and 2-ethylnaphthalene catalyzed by complex 2 led to substrate conversions of up to 32 % and amide selectivities of up to 91 %. Complex 1 or 2 can also catalyze the asymmetric amidation of 4-methoxyethylbenzene, tetralin, and 2-ethylnaphthalene with "PhI(OAc)(2) + NH(2)SO(2)Me", affording the N-substituted methanesulfonamides in up to 56 % ee with substrate conversions of up to 34 % and amide selectivities of up to 92 %. Extension of the "complex 1 + PhI=NTs" or "complex 1 + PhI(OAc)(2) + NH(2)R (R=Ts, Ns)" amidation protocol to a steroid resulted in diastereoselective amidation of cholesteryl acetate at the allylic C-H bonds at C-7 with substrate conversions of up to 49 % and amide selectivities of up to 90 % (alpha:beta ratio: up to 4.2:1). An aziridination- and amidation-active chiral bis(tosylimido)ruthenium(VI) porphyrin, [Ru(Por*)(NTs)(2)] (3), and a ruthenium porphyrin aziridine adduct, [Ru(Por*)(CO)(TsAz)] (4, TsAz=N-tosyl-2- (4-chlorophenyl)aziridine), have been isolated from the reaction of 2 with PhI=NTs and N-tosyl-2-(4-chlorophenyl)aziridine, respectively. The imidoruthenium porphyrin 3 could be an active species in the aziridination or amidation catalyzed by complex 2 described above. The second-order rate constants for the reactions of 3 with styrenes, 2-vinylnaphthalene, indene, ethylbenzenes, and 2-ethylnaphthalene range from 3.7-42.5x10(-3) dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1). An X-ray structure determination of complex 4 reveals an O- rather than N-coordination of the aziridine axial ligand. The fact that the N-tosylaziridine in 4 does not adopt an N-coordination mode disfavors a concerted pathway in the aziridination by a tosylimido ruthenium porphyrin active species.     

Amidation of silyl enol ethers and cholesteryl acetates with chiral ruthenium(II) schiff-base catalysts: catalytic and enantioselective studies

Chiral ruthenium(II)-salen complexes [RuII(salen)(PPh3)2] catalyse asymmetric aziridination of alkenes with up to 83% ees, asymmetric amidation of silyl enol ethers with up to 97% ees, and allylic amidation of cholesteryl acetates with good regioselectivity.