Cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric olefin aziridination with diphenylphosphoryl azide.

The cobalt(II) complexes of D2-symmetric chiral porphyrins, such as 3,5-Di(t)Bu-ChenPhyrin P5, can catalyze asymmetric olefin aziridination with diphenylphosphoryl azide (DPPA) as a nitrene source. Acceptable asymmetric inductions were observed for the [Co(P5)]-based catalytic system, forming the desired N-phosphorus-substituted aziridines in moderate to high yields and good enantioselectivities.