Umpolung of chiral 2-ethynylaziridines: Indium(I)-mediated stereoselective synthesis of nonracemic 1,3-amino alcohols bearing three chiral centers, catalyzed by palladium(0)

Treatment of 3-alkyl-2-ethynylaziridines with InI in the presence of Pd(PPh(3))(4) and H(2)O gave allenylindium reagents bearing a protected amino group in high yields. Stereoselective addition of the allenylindium to aldehydes affords 2-ethynyl-1,3-amino alcohols bearing three chiral centers in good yields.