The azirinyl ester 2 (R = Bu-t) has been generated by thermolysis of t
-butyl 2-azidoacrylate. It is too unstable to allow its full character
isation but it has been intercepted by Diels-Alder cycloaddition to se
veral dienes. Addition to a chiral diene 8 is highly diastereoselectiv
e. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.