Unusual (Z)-selective palladium(II)-catalysed addition of aryl boronic acids to vinylaziridines

The palladium(II)-catalysed addition of arylboronic acids to vinylaziridines has been developed. This reaction proceeds via an insertion/ring-opening process to provide (Z)-allylsulfonamides preferentially. This stereoselectivity is complimentary to existing methods that typically proceed via a S_N2′ mechanism to yield (E)-allylsulfonamides. Electron-deficient arylboronic acids were the optimum substrates for this reaction, while electron-donating groups on the aromatic ring of the boronic acids resulted in moderate yields.