Catalytic aziridinations with copper(II) salen complexes

Three copper(II) complexes coordinated with salen ligands are synthesized, characterized, and examined for catalytic nitrene transfer reactions with a set of olefins. All three copper( II) complexes exhibit catalytic reactivity for the aziridination of styrene with PhI=NTs. Complex 3 is the most efficient catalyst for activated olefins (up to 94% yield). This complex is additionally characterized by X-ray crystallography, showing a highly distorted octahedral ligand surrounding the Cu atom having included in its coordination sphere an acetate ligand.