Chiral imidates as a new class of nitrogen-based chiral ligands: synthesis and catalytic activity in asymmetric aziridinations and diethylzinc additions

Chiral imidates were efficiently synthesized in one step and with high yields (seven examples). These chiral imidates were used as ligands in the Cu(I)-catalyzed asymmetric aziridination of methyl cinnamate and in the asymmetric diethylzinc additions to benzaldehyde as a proof of principle. The imidate catalyst system showed high catalytic activities and induced encouraging selectivities. An X-ray structure analysis of an imidate-Cu(I) complex is included, showing a distorted tetrahedral arrangement with two bidentate ligand molecules surrounding the metal.