Organolithium-mediated conversion of (beta)-functionalised aziridines into alkynyl amino alcohols and diamines

The direct conversion of dihydrofuran and dihydropyrrole N-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl aziridines into alkynyl amino alcohols and diamines respectively can be achieved using 3 equiv. sec-butyllithium–PMDETA in THF; use of n-butyllithium and (–)-sparteine in Et2O gave an alkynyl amino alcohol in 60% ee.