New chemical synthesis method can produce an exciting range of novel compounds

Researchers have established a reaction catalyzed by Bis(imidazoline)/zinc whereby 2H-azirines react with phosphite, yielding aziridines at a high enantiomeric ratio. Given the value of existing aziridines as chemical building blocks as well as medications such as the chemotherapy agent mitomycin C and the antibiotics azicemicins, this reaction system could provide a range of new targets with pharmaceutical potential.