Regio- and stereoselective C-2 and C-3 cleavage of 2-(1-aminoalkyl)aziridines with alcohols, carboxylic acids, and sodium iodide

Ring opening of nonactivated aziridines 1 using several nucleophiles, such as alcohols, carboxylic acids, and sodium iodide, is described. Depending on the nucleophile used, aziridines 1 are cleaved at C-3 or C-2 with total regio- and stereoselectivity, affording chiral 2-alkoxy-1,3-diamines 2 with alcohols, or O-acylated-1-hydroxy-2,3-diamines 6 with carboxylic acids in moderate or high yield. In the case of the aziridines derived from phenylalanine, treatment with NaI afford trans-4-phenylbut-3-en-1,2-diamines 9, generating the alkene with total diastereoselectivity. Mechanisms have been proposed to explain these reactions.