Copper‐Catalyzed Cyanoalkylative Aziridination of N ‐Sulfonyl Allylamines

Reaction of N ‐arylsulfonyl allylamines with alkyl nitriles in the presence of di‐ tert ‐butyl peroxide (DTBP) and a catalytic amount of copper salt afforded homologated aziridines in 43–86% yield. A sequence involving addition of the in situ generated cyanomethyl radical to the double bond followed by a copper‐mediated intramolecular C−N bond formation accounted for the reaction outcome. 2,3‐Disubstituted allylamines were converted to trisubstituted aziridines in a stereoselective manner. Starting from enantioenriched allylamines, chiral aziridines were obtained diastereoselectively.