Enantioselective Oxidative Ring-Opening Reaction of Aziridines with α-Nitroesters Using Cinchona Alkaloid Amide/Nickel(II) Catalysts

The enantioselective oxidative ring-opening reaction of aziridines with alpha-nitroacetates has been developed. Good yields and enantioselectivity were observed for the reaction of various aziridines using a novel cinchona alkaloid amide/NiBr2 catalyst. Both enantiomers of products could be obtained by using pseudoenantiomeric chiral catalysts. This process offers an efficient route for the synthesis of alpha-aminoketones.