Cyclic oligomers of N-substituted aziridines

摘要

Novel cyclic oligomers of the formula <IMAGE> ARE PREPARED BY CONTACTING (A) A STRONG PROTIC ACID WITH (B) AN N-substituted non-activated aziridine of the formula <IMAGE> wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl and R3 is hydrogen, hydroxyl, cyano or an organic radical which is inert in the process. The process is typically conducted in an aqueous alkanol medium. E.g. the cyclic tetramer of N-phenethylaziridine was obtained as the predominant product by heating a solution of N-phenethylaziridine in aqueous ethanol at reflux temperatures in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid.