Stereoselective intramolecular cycloadditions of homochiral N-alkenoyl aryl azides

Starting from the commercially available (S)-1-phenylethylamine and L-alanine benzylester, we synthesised the homochiral N-alkenoyl aryl azides 2a–2d. The intramolecular cycloaddition of unsubstituted 2a and 2b gave enantiopure 3,3a-dihydro-1,2,3-triazolo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepine-4(6H)-ones 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b, while phenyl-substituted 2c and 2d gave enantiopure 1,1a-dihydro-2H-azirino[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine-4(6H)-ones 5c, 5d, 6c and 6d.