A highly selective N-sulfinylimidate aldolization has been developed under mildly basic conditions leading to diastereopure products of high synthetic potential. The innate reversibility of this aldolization was suppressed by the use of titanium as the Lewis acid. An application of this methodology via the synthesis of a potential neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor is illustrated.

The synthesis of γ-lactams is reported by a formal (3+2) cycloaddition between readily available ketenes and aziridines or a one-pot formal (2+1+2) cycloaddition using imines as aziridine precursors. The method is practical, is scalable, and affords high yields. It also offers a high level of regio-and diastereoselectivity on a wide range of substrates as well as a high stereoselectivity in the case of enantiopure aziridines.

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