3+2] cross-coupling reactions of aziridines with isocyanates catalyzed by nickel(II) iodide

[reaction: see text]. Cycloaddition of aziridines with isocyanates proceeded smoothly in the presence of a nickel catalyst, and five iminooxazolidine derivatives were isolated in good yields. The best result was obtained when the reaction was carried out in the presence of NiI2, and a longer reaction time allowed the isomerization of the iminooxazolidine to the corresponding imidazolidinone derivatives.