Synthesis and crystal structure of 1-vinyl-cis-2,3-diphenylaziridine

1-Vinyl-cis-2,3-diphenylaziridine, C₁₆H₁₅N, has been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods and single crystal X-ray analysis. The structure was studied at room temperature (2a) (18°C) and at low temperature (2b) (–70°C). The title compound crystallizes in the space group Cm with Z=2 showing no phase transformation between the two temperatures. The cell parameters area=8.258(3),b=15.880(3),c=5.827(2)Å, =122.32(2)° for (2a) anda=8.188(2),b=15.762(3),c=5.724(1)Å, =121.57(2)° for (2b). Both the studies show nearly the same conformation. With the exception of the vinyl group, the molecule hasm symmetry, so, the asymmetric unit is half a molecule. The mirror plane of the space group cuts the aziridine ring through the N atom. The vinyl group is distributed on two symmetrical positions by means of the same mirror plane. In this way, the crystal is built with the two diastereoisomers of the title compound.