Stereoselective synthesis of trans- and cis-2-aryl-3-(hydroxymethyl)aziridines through transformation of 4-aryl-3-chloro-beta-lactams and study of their ring opening.

trans- and cis-1-Alkyl-4-aryl-3-chloroazetidin-2-ones, prepared through cyclocondensation of chloroketene and the appropriate imines in a diastereoselective way, were transformed into the corresponding non-activated trans- and cis-2-aryl-3-(hydroxymethyl)aziridines via reductive ring contraction using LiAlH(4) in Et(2)O. Furthermore, trans-2-aryl-3-(hydroxymethyl)aziridines were transformed into 2-amino-3-arylpropan-1-ols and anti-2-amino-3-aryl-3-methoxypropan-1-ols by means of an unprecedented ring opening by LiAlH(4) and by MeOH, respectively. cis-2-Aryl-3-(hydroxymethyl)aziridines were shown to be highly reluctant to undergo ring opening by LiAlH(4) and MeOH under similar reaction conditions.