Titanium(IV)/Tridentate BINOL Derivative as Catalyst for meso-Aziridine Ring-Opening Reactions: High Enantioselectivity, Strong Positive Non-Linear Effect and Structural Characterization

A titanium-based chiral Lewis acid was found to be effective for the ring-opening reactions of meso-aziridines with aniline nucleophiles. The products were generally isolated in high yields and with high to excellent enantioselectivity. The catalytic system was studied by X-ray single crystal analysis. In experiments on non-linear effects a strong non-linear effect of the catalyst system was observed.