Synthesis 2017; 49(10): 2215-2222
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1588404
paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Concise Synthesis of 3-(Aminomethyl)pyrrolizidines via an In(OTf)3-Mediated Ring Rearrangement of 2-[2-(1-Pyrrolin-2-yl)-alkyl]aziridines

Jeroen Dolfen
SynBioC Research Group, Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium   Email: matthias.dhooghe@UGent.be
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Matthias D’hooghe*
SynBioC Research Group, Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium   Email: matthias.dhooghe@UGent.be
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Received: 29 November 2016

Accepted after revision: 09 January 2017

Publication Date:
31 January 2017 (online)


Abstract

In this study, an efficient ring rearrangement of 2-[2-(1-pyrrolin-2-yl)alkyl]aziridines, prepared from 2-(bromomethyl)aziridines, toward novel trans- and cis-3-aminomethyl-substituted pyrrolizidines was developed. To that end, addition of In(OTf)3 as an appropriate Lewis acid catalyst resulted in the formation of intermediate pyrrolizidinium salts via regioselective aziridine ring opening, which were then trapped by a hydride or cyanide nucleophile. Column chromatographic purification allowed the isolation of the major trans-isomers, exclusively.

Supporting Information