Direct synthesis of chiral aziridines from N-tert-butyl-sulfinylketimines

The direct preparation of a range of variously substituted chiral tert-butylsulfinylketimines was achieved in good yield (41-90%), with relatively rapid reaction times (4-15 hours); their synthetic application was examined through the reaction with the ylides derived from trimethylsulfonium iodide and S-allyl tetrahydrothiophenium bromide, affording convenient access to a diverse range of highly substituted chiral aziridines in up to 78% yield and > 90% d.e. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2006.