Hydrogen peroxide/dimethyl carbonate: a green system for epoxidation of N-alkylimines and N-sulfonylimines. One-pot synthesis of N-alkyloxaziridines from N-alkylamines and (hetero) aromatic aldehydes

A green method for epoxidation of imines using an environmentally benign oxidant system, H2O2/dimethyl carbonate, was developed. N-Alkyloxaziridines were prepared in high yields from N-alkylamines and (hetero) aromatic aldehydes in one-pot fashion, whereas N-sulfonyloxaziridines have been prepared by using the same oxidant system and 5 mol% of Zn(OAc)(2)center dot 2H(2)O as catalyst.