Ring opening of aziridines with ortho-bromophenyl metal reagents: synthesis of 2-substituted indolines

Stabilized ortho-bromo phenyllithium reagents, generated via lithium-halogen exchange of aryl iodides, undergo regioselective ring opening of mono-substituted N-Boc, N-Cbz, and N-tosyl-protected aziridines in good to excellent yields. The resulting ortho-bromo phenethylamines can be cyclized under transition-metal-catalyzed conditions to give 2-substituted chiral, non-racemic indolines in good yields.