Diastereoselective synthesis of substituted 1,3,6-triazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes

A general method was developed for the synthesis of substituted 1,3,6-triazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes via intramolecular aminomethylation of the NH group of the diaziridine ring by the reactions of 3-aminomethyl-1,3-dimethyldiaziridine with aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic carbonyl compounds. These reactions with aldehydes proceeded diastereoselectively to form mixtures of two racemates, viz., 1R*,2R*,5R*,6R* and 1R*,2S*,5R*,6R*, in a ratio of (3—20) : 1, the predominant diastereomer being isolated in all cases. The reactions with symmetrical ketones gave rise exclusively to the (1R*,5R*,6R*) racemate. The predominant diastereomer 1R*,2R*,5R*,6R*-2-(2-bromothien-5-yl)-1,3,6-triazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane crystallized as a conglomerate. The structure of one of its enantiomers was established by X-ray diffraction analysis.