Light empowered aziridination of olefins under metal- and photocatalyst-free conditions

Abstract

Aziridines derived from biologically active compounds often exhibit distinct pharmacological properties, rendering them highly valuable in the field of pharmacology. The conversion of readily available alkenes into aziridines represents a highly valuable synthetic approach, but is predominantly achieved through either transition-metal-based catalysis or photosensitization approaches. Here, we report a catalyst-free strategy for efficient aziridination of olefins via visible-light-induced homolytic cleavage of the N–Cl bond in chloramine T (CAT). This strategy illustrates the broad substrate versatility of olefins and demonstrates exceptional applicability for the aziridination of important natural active molecules and pharmaceuticals. Notably, the integration of controllable photo-flow technology substantially enhances process efficiency and scalability underscoring its substantial potential for application in pharmaceutical derivatization.