An efficient synthesis of chiral terminal 1,2-diamines using an enantiomerically pure [1-(1′R)methylbenzyl]aziridine-2-yl]methanol

Enantiomerically pure terminal 1,2-diamines, which can serve as precursors for the synthesis of many biologically important compounds, were synthesized efficiently from a commercially available chiral [1-(1'R)-methylbenzyl]aziridine-2-yl]methanol. Various enantiomerically pure 2-vinylaziridines were prepared by Wittig reactions from aziridine-2-carboxaldehyde and the corresponding phosphonium salts. The C(2)-N bond of the vinyl substituted aziridine ring was regioselectively cleaved by azidotrimethylsilane (TMSN3). The azido group and the double bond were reduced successively to give the target compounds in high yields. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.