title: A New Synthesis of 2-Methyleneaziridines.
abstract: A new synthetic route leading to 2-methyleneaziridines has been developed by base-induced 1,2-dehydrobromination of 2-(bromomethyl)aziridines. Several base-solvent pairs did not lead to 2-methyleneaziridines. Only potassium tert-butoxide in tetrahydrofuran afforded 2-methyleneaziridines in competition with the substitution products, i.e. 2-(tert-butoxymethyl)aziridines. Various attempted functionalizations of 1-(arylmethyl)-2-methyleneaziridines failed, but they proved to be excellent substrates for the synthesis of beta-lactam derivatives, i.e. 1-(arylmethyl)-2-iminoazetidines, through ring expansion with azides carrying electron-withdrawing substituents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences, University of Gent, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De Kimpe
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Smaele
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sakonyi