Catalytic asymmetric ring-opening of meso-aziridines with malonates under heterodinuclear rare earth metal Schiff base catalysis

Catalytic asymmetric ring-opening of meso-aziridines with malonates is described. The combined use of two rare earth metal sources with different properties promoted the desired ring-opening reaction. A 1:1:1 mixture of a heterobimetallic La(O-iPr)(3)/Yb(OTf)(3)/Schiff base 1a (0.25-10 mol %) efficiently promoted the reaction of five-, six-, and seven-membered ring cyclic meso-aziridines as well as acyclic meso-aziridines with dimethyl, diethyl, and dibenzyl malonates, giving chiral cyclic and acyclic γ-amino esters in 99-63% yield and >99.5-97% ee.