BH3-promoted stereoselective β-lithiation of N-alkyl-2-phenylaziridines.

BH(3) complexes of N-alkyl-2-phenylaziridines have been synthesized and their structure and stereochemistry proved with DFT calculations and NMR experiments. It has been demonstrated that the Lewis acid complexation is able to promote a regioselective β-lithiation in 2-phenylaziridino-borane complexes. The lithiated intermediates were configurationally stable, allowing an enantioselective preparation of cis-2,3-disubstituted aziridines.