Parallel kinetic resolution of aziridines via chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed apparent hydrolytic ring-opening

Chem Sci. 2023 Oct 12;14(43):12152-12159. doi: 10.1039/d3sc03899h. eCollection 2023 Nov 8.

Abstract

We report a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed apparent hydrolytic ring-opening reaction of racemic aziridines in a regiodivergent parallel kinetic resolution manner. Harnessing the acyloxy-assisted strategy, the highly stereocontrolled nucleophilic ring-opening of aziridines with water is achieved. Different kinds of aziridines are applicable in the process, giving a variety of enantioenriched aromatic or aliphatic amino alcohols with up to 99% yields and up to >99.5 : 0.5 enantiomeric ratio. Preliminary mechanistic study as well as product elaborations were inducted as well.