Rhodium(II,II) dimer as an efficient catalyst for aziridination of sulfonamides and amidation of steroids.

[reaction: see text] Unsaturated sulfonamides underwent direct intramolecular aziridination catalyzed by Rh(2)(OAc)(4) with PhI(OAc)(2) and Al(2)O(3) to give the corresponding aziridine products in excellent yields (up to 98%) and with good to excellent conversions. High turnovers (up to 1375) were achieved. The intermolecular rhodium-catalyzed amidation of cholesteryl acetate with PhI=NTs or PhI(OAc)(2)/NH(2)R as the nitrogen source exhibited both excellent regio- and alpha-selectivity (alpha/beta ratio up to 9:1).