Synthesis 2008(9): 1420-1430  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1072561
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Synthesis of Hexahydro-1H-benzo[c]chromen-1-amines via the Intramolecular Ring-Opening Reactions of Aziridines by π-Nucleophiles

Aravinda B. Pulipaka, Stephen C. Bergmeier*
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Clippinger Laboratory, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
e-Mail: bergmeis@ohio.edu;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 13 December 2007
Publication Date:
27 March 2008 (online)

Abstract

The intramolecular cyclization of aziridines with π-nucleophiles can be a useful route to a number of heterocyclic and carbocyclic systems. This methodology has been applied to the synthesis of hexahydro-1H-benzo[c]chromen-1-amines, the basic skeleton of many amaryllidaceae alkaloids. The success of the aziridine cyclization is largely dependent on the N-substitution of aziridine, with activated aziridines not undergoing the cyclization reaction. Only N-H-, N-alkyl- and N-arylaziridines underwent the cyclization reaction. The ring opening of an unactivated aziridines with a π-nucleophile is one of the first examples of such a reaction.