AZIRIDINATION OF N-SULFONYLIMINES WITH A STABILIZED SULFONIUM YLIDE -SIMPLE PREPARATION OF 2-[(E)-2-(ALKOXYCARBONYL)ETHENYL]-3-ARYLAZIRIDINES

2-[(E)-2-(alkoxycarbonyl)ethenyl]-3-arylaziridines 1 are efficiently p repared either by the reaction of N-sulfonylimines 2 with 3-(alkoxycar bonyl)allyldimethylsulfonium bromide 3 in the presence of potassium ca rbonate in acetonitrile at room temperature or by the reaction of comp ounds 2 with preformed dimethylsulfonium 3-(alkoxycarbonyl)allylides 4 at -78 degrees C in moderate to good yields, The cis/trans value of t he product ranged from 1/1 to 8/1.