Direct aziridination of a nitrostyrene is achieved upon treatment with an alkylamine and N-chlorosuccinimide. The reaction is initiated by the Michael addition of amine to nitroalkene. Subsequent N-chlorination and nucleophilic substitution at the nitrogen atom afford 1-alkyl-2-nitroaziridine diastereoselectively. This reaction mechanism was clarified by NMR studies.
Keywords: chloramine; intramolecular nucleophilic substitution; nitroalkene; nitroaziridine.