Novel synthesis of gem-dichloroaziridines from imines via the KF/Al2O3-promoted generation of dichlorocarbene from chloroform.

KF/Al(2)O(3) was found to be an efficient base for the reaction of imines with chloroform in acetonitrile to give gem-dichloroaziridines 2 in moderate to high yields. The KF/Al(2)O(3)-promoted dichloroaziridination can be carried out with simple workup, tolerates a variety of functional groups present in the imines, and proceeds smoothly with a smaller amount of carbene source.