Domino condensation/aza-Michael/O→N acyl migration of carbodiimides with activated α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids to form hydantoins

Activated α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids undergo an unexpected domino condensation/aza-Michael/O→N acyl migration with carbodiimides, producing N,N-disubstituted hydantoins in good yields. An array of structurally varied aspartic acid-derived hydantoins, including some fluorinated derivatives, have been synthesized by this method, whose scope and limits are discussed.