N-tosyloxycarbamates as a source of metal nitrenes: rhodium-catalyzed C-H insertion and aziridination reactions.

The rhodium-catalyzed decomposition of N-tosyloxycarbamates to generate metal nitrenes which undergo intramolecular C-H insertion or aziridination reaction is described. Aliphatic N-tosyloxycarbamates produce oxazolidinones with high yields and stereospecificity through insertion in benzylic, tertiary, and secondary C-H bonds. Intramolecular aziridination occurs with allylic N-tosyloxycarbamates to produce aziridines as single diastereomers. The reaction proceeds at room temperature using a rhodium catalyst and an excess of potassium carbonate and does not require the use of strong oxidant, such as hypervalent iodine reagents. A rhodium nitrene species is presumably involved, as both reactions are stereospecific.