Manganese(I)-Catalyzed Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Aziridine Phosphines.

Abstract

Herein, we present the first catalytic asymmetric nucleophilic addition of diarylphosphines to 2H-azirines, facilitated by a chiral Mn(I) complex. This method not only provides access to novel class of derivatives of the aziridine core-a structural motif recognized for its antitumor and antibacterial properties-but also introduces a phosphine moiety alongside the generation of an NH moiety within a strained three-membered ring. The discovery of this new Mn(I) complex that both enables the reaction and induces stereoselectivity is pivotal, as it underscores the significant potential of this earth-abundant metal in advancing asymmetric catalysis.