First graphene oxide promoted metal-free nitrene insertion into olefins in water: towards facile synthesis of activated aziridines†
Prashant Shukla,Suhasini Mahata,Anjumala Sahu,Manorama Singh,Vijai K. Rai,Ankita Rai
RSC Advances Pub Date : 10/17/2017 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/C7RA09351A
Abstract

A facile metal-free graphene oxide (GO)-catalyzed synthesis of tosylaziridines using PhI[double bond, length as m-dash]NTs as the nitrene source is reported. The reaction involves nitrene insertion into a variety of styrene/nitrostyrene derivatives in the presence of iodine at room temperature and in water. The envisaged process is highly green, operationally simple, it employs metal-free catalysis and it affords excellent yields (85–92%) and high diastereoselectivity (95–98%) of the Z-isomer of the product. The catalyst used could be recycled for further use in other reactions.

Graphical abstract: First graphene oxide promoted metal-free nitrene insertion into olefins in water: towards facile synthesis of activated aziridines