Vicinal Diamination of Alkenes under Rh-Catalysis

The synthesis of 1,2-diamines has been achieved through a single-step, tandem sequence involving Rh-catalyzed aziridination followed by NaI-promoted rearrangement to an isomeric cyclic sulfamide. Facile ring opening of these products in hot water and pyridine affords differentially protected vicinal diamines. Demonstration of the utility of this method for the syntheses of (+/-)-enduracididine and (+/-)-allo-enduracididine is highlighted.