Rhodium-catalyzed stereoselective formation of Z-enamines from allylaziridines

Rhodium (I)-catalyzed isomerization of N-allylaziridines affords isolable Z-enamines in excellent yields and with high stereoselectivity. Cationic [Rh(BINAP)(COD)]OTf and RhH(CO)(PPh3)3 follow the same selectivity toward the Z-isomers. This selectivity is not observed with other N-allylamines which give the thermodynamically more stable E-isomers. These unexpected results suggest a possible deviation from the commonly accepted mechanism of isomerization. Preliminary results show that the Z-enamines undergo cycloaddition with DMAD to form highly strained N-cyclobutenyl aziridines.