In 2006, an amphoteric molecule containing both an aldehyde and an unprotected amine was reported in the Yudin group by Dr. Ryan Hili. The unprotected aziridine aldehyde exists as homochiral dimers. Furthermore, due to the reversibility of the hemiacetal formation, the free aldehyde is available to undergo a wide array of reactions including an Ugi multicomponent reaction to give the final peptide macrocycle. Thus far, the mechanistic pathway involved in the Ugi reaction between S-trans aziridine aldehyde dimer and L-amino acids in the presence of tert-butyl isocyanide has given high diastereoselectivity whereas low diastereoselectivity is observed if the aziridine dimer is of the opposite stereochemistry. Herein, preliminary results show that a S-cis aziridine aldehyde with either a D or L-secondary amino acid gives high diastereoselectivity showing that the reaction is under Felkin-Ahn control.

In 2006, an amphoteric molecule containing both an aldehyde and an unprotected amine was reported in the Yudin group by Dr. Ryan Hili. The unprotected aziridine aldehyde exists as homochiral dimers. Furthermore, due to the reversibility of the hemiacetal formation, the free aldehyde is available to undergo a wide array of reactions including an Ugi multicomponent reaction to give the final peptide macrocycle. Thus far, the mechanistic pathway involved in the Ugi reaction between S-trans aziridine aldehyde dimer and L-amino acids in the presence of tert-butyl isocyanide has given high diastereoselectivity whereas low diastereoselectivity is observed if the aziridine dimer is of the opposite stereochemistry. Herein, preliminary results show that a S-cis aziridine aldehyde with either a D or L-secondary amino acid gives high diastereoselectivity showing that the reaction is under Felkin-Ahn control.