FeCl3: an efficient catalyst for reactions of electron-rich arenes with imines or aziridines

Iron(III) chloride was discovered highly effective as catalyst in the Friedel–Crafts reactions of electron-rich arenes with imines or aziridines. It was found that reactions of imines were highly substrate-dependent, which generated mono- or double-addition products, while arenes reacted with aziridines regioselectively leading to the formation of desired ring-opening products in 2 min with moderate to good yields.