Stereoselectivity in the amination of chiral cyclohex-3-en-1-one ketals

Optically active cyclohex-3-en-1-one ketals by photolysis of N(3)CO(2)Et or N3C(OEt)NMs or by CaO induced alpha-elimination of NsONHCO(2)Et give diastereomeric aziridines (up to 72% yields, up to 60% d.e.). A simple HPLC separation allows to obtain practically pure aziridines. The conversion of the main product to the ketal of (R)-N-(ethoxycarbonyl)-beta-aminocyclohexanone is also reported and a further oxidation directly gives a derivative of(R)-2-aminoadipic acid. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.