Enantioselective Synthesis of 4,5-Dihydropyrroles via Domino Ring-Opening Cyclization (DROC) of N-Activated Aziridines with Malononitrile

An efficient and practical strategy for the synthesis of highly functionalized racemic and non-racemic 4,5-dihydropyrroles via domino ring-opening cyclization (DROC) of activated aziridines with malononitrile in excellent yield and stereoselectivity is described. The reaction serves as a tool for the synthesis of a large variety of substituted 4,5-dihydropyrroles in enantiomerically pure forms.