Fe(NO3)3 as an efficient catalyst for regio- and stereo-controlled ring expansion of 1,2-diaroyl-3-arylaziridines

Several 1,2-diaroyl-3-arylaziridines were previously prepared conveniently and used in the preparation of 5-benzoyl-2,4-diaryl oxazolines in the presence of NaI. In this work, synthesis of some trans-4-benzoyl-2,5-diaryl oxazolines by a regio- and stereo-controlled reaction in the presence of Iron (III) nitrate at room temperature is reported. A plausible mechanism has been proposed for ring expansion of N-acyl aziridines to oxazolines.