Synthesis of orthogonally protected azalanthionines (lanazanines) by sequential ring-opening of N-substituted aziridine 2-carboxylates

Nucleophilic ring opening reactions of aziridines

Aziridine ring opening reactions have gained tremendous importance in the synthesis of nitrogen containing biologically active molecules. During recent years, a great effort has been put forward by scientists toward unique bond construction methodologies via ring opening of aziridines. In this regard, a wide range of chiral metal- and organo-catalyzed desymmetrization reactions of aziridines have been reported with carbon, sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, halogen, and other nucleophiles. In this review, an outline of methodologies adopted by a number of scientists during 2013-2017 for aziridine ring opening reactions as well as their synthetic applications is described.

Synthesis of β-substituted tryptamines by regioselective ring opening of aziridines

Functionalized tryptamines are targets of interest for development as small molecule therapeutics. The ring opening of aziridines with indoles is a powerful method for tryptamine synthesis if site selectivity can be controlled. 4-Nitrobenzyl carbamate (PNZ)-protected aziridines undergo regioselective ring opening to produce β-substituted tryptamines for a series of indoles. The PNZ-protected tryptamines can be further manipulated by PNZ removal under mild conditions.

Aziridine electrophiles in the functionalisation of peptide chains with amine nucleophiles

We describe herein the synthesis of aziridine-containing amino acids embedded within tripeptide structures.