Direct N -Me Aziridination of Enones.

The first direct general method for N- Me aziridination of electron-deficient olefins, enones, is described using N -methyl- O -tosylhydroxylamine as the aminating agent in the presence of a Cu(OTf) 2 catalyst. The aziridination of vinyl ketones, hitherto unknown for N -Me as well as N -H, has been achieved efficiently. The open-flask reaction is stereospecific, operationally simple, and additive-free. It also efficiently affords N -H aziridinated products under a similar reaction condition.