title: Synthesis of 1-arylmethyl-2-(2-cyanoethyl)aziridines and their rearrangement into novel 2-(aminomethyl)cyclopropanecarbonitriles.
abstract: 1-Arylmethyl-2-(bromomethyl)aziridines were transformed into novel 2-(2-cyanoethyl)aziridines upon treatment with alpha-lithiated trimethylsilylacetonitrile in THF in an efficient and straightforward approach. The latter aziridines underwent ring opening by reaction with benzyl bromide in acetonitrile, affording 5-amino-4-bromopentanenitriles through a regiospecific ring opening of intermediate aziridinium salts by bromide. Further elaboration of these gamma-bromonitriles resulted in the synthesis of novel 2-[N,N-bis(arylmethyl)aminomethyl]cyclopropanecarbonitriles in high yields by means of a 1,3-cyclization protocol upon treatment with KOtBu in THF.
authors: Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: D'hooghe
authors: Karel
authors: K
authors: Vervisch
authors: Norbert De
authors: ND
authors: Kimpe
mesh_terms: D001388:Aziridines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D003500:Cyclization; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D009570:Nitriles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001388:Aziridines; D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D009570:Nitriles; C510307:cyclopropanecarbonitrile