Phosphorimidate rearrangement for the facile and selective preparation of allylic amines

Allylic phosphorimidates, readily prepared from the combination of an allylic alcohol, an azide, and a chlorophosphite, undergo [3,3]-rearrangement under thermal conditions to provide single isomers of allylic phosphoramidates. This new rearrangement is tolerant of a range of substitution patterns on the reactants. Treatment of the products of the rearrangement with ethanethiolate followed by acid produces a protected allylic amine. This strategy thus provides an attractive and versatile procedure for the preparation of key synthetic intermediates, allylic amines. Copyright © 2003 American Chemical Society.