Iodobenzene diacetate/tetrabutylammonium iodide-induced aziridination of N-tosylimines with activated methylene compounds under mild conditions

Aziridination of N-tosylimines with activated methylene compounds induced by iodobenzene diacetate [PhI(OAc)(2)] and tetrabutylammonium bromide [Bu4NBr] afforded the corresponding 2,2-difunctionalized aziridines in good yields with the aid of a catalytic amount of base. The reaction is hypothesized to proceed via a tandem nucleophilic addition-oxidative cyclization pathway.