Access to Functionalized Imidazolidin-2-one Derivatives by Iron-Catalyzed Oxyamination of Alkenes

Functionalized imidazolidin-2-one were prepared by using an iron-catalyzed alkene oxyamination reaction. Hydroxylamine derivatives were used in this atom-economical process, and the addition of an external oxidant was not required. The conditions developed were shown to be efficient for mono-, di-, and trisubstituted double bonds, and a large scope of diamino alcohol precursors were delivered in good yields with good diastereoselectivities. The mechanistic pathway was studied and appears to involve both a fused aziridine and a carbocationic species.