Conjugate addition of amines to chiral 3-aziridin-2-yl-acrylates

Conjugate addition of benzylamine to chiral methyl cis-3-aziridin-2-yl-acrylates was successfully proceeded to yield 3-aziridin-2-yl-3-benzylaminopropionates in high yield with high stereoselectivity. The addition products were used for the asymmetric synthesis of vicinal diamine derivatives including 4-amino-5-methylpyrrolidin-2-one, 3,4-diaminopentanoate, and 5-chloromethyl-4-alkoxycarbonylmethylimidazolidin-2-one.