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Showing papers on "Bicyclic molecule published in 2020"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A series of l-pyroglutamic acid-derived bifunctional NHCs bearing a free hydroxyl group which can interact with carbonyl or imino groups via hydrogen-bonding worked well for a variety of reactions and could not only improve but also switch the enantioselectivity to get products with opposite stereochemistry through H-bond controlled stereochemical directing.
Abstract: In nature, enzymes are a powerful medium for the construction of enantiomerically pure chemicals, which always inspires synthetic chemists to explore new catalysts to imitate the enzyme machinery for asymmetric transformations. Vitamin B1, a bifunctional thiazolium N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursor, is the coenzyme for transketolase. In the past two decades, a series of chiral NHCs, including monocyclic, bicyclic, tetracyclic, and even bridged ones, have been synthesized and successfully utilized as efficient organocatalysts for a wide variety of asymmetric organic reactions. The utility of bifunctional catalysts can enhance catalytic activity and improve stereochemical control through their synchronous activation of both reaction partners. However, the NHCs possessing multiple activation sites are far less developed.This Account gives an overview of our research on the design, development, and applications of bifunctional NHCs in organocatalysis. We synthesized a series of l-pyroglutamic acid-derived bifunctional NHCs bearing a free hydroxyl group which can interact with carbonyl or imino groups via hydrogen-bonding. Further studies revealed that these bifunctional catalysts worked well for a variety of reactions. We have developed bifunctional NHC-catalyzed aza-benzoin reactions, [2 + 2], [2 + 3], and [2 + 4] cycloadditions of ketenes, [3 + 2] and [3 + 4] annulations of enals, and aza-MBH and Rauhut-Currier reactions of Michael acceptors. In addition to these reactions via nucleophilic Breslow intermediates, enolates, homoenolates, and zwitterionic azolium intermediates, the bifunctional NHC-catalyzed [3 + 3] annulation via 1,3-biselectrophilic α,β-unsaturated acyl azolium intermediates was also developed.In these reactions, bifunctional NHCs showed amazing effects compared to normal nonbifunctional NHCs. In some cases, the bifunctional NHCs facilitated reactions which did not work under normal NHC catalysis, possibly due to additional activation via H-bonding. More interestingly, the bifunctional NHCs could not only improve but also switch the enantioselectivity to get products with opposite stereochemistry through H-bond controlled stereochemical directing. Furthermore, the reaction mode could be totally changed from [3 + 2] to [3 + 4] annulation to give kinetically favored products when bifunctional NHCs were employed. In future, the applications of bifunctional NHCs in other challenging reactions, such as asymmetric reactions with carbon-carbon unsaturated bonds, and the reactions involving alkyl or heteroatom radicals will be the major focus in our group.

192 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A highly diastereo‐ and enantioselectivecycloannulation of ortho‐quinone methides and carbonyl ylides to furnish functionalized oxa‐bridged dibenzooxacines with excellent yields and stereoselectivity in a single synthetic step is described.
Abstract: We describe herein a highly diastereo- and enantioselective [4+3]-cycloannulation of ortho-quinone methides and carbonyl ylides to furnish functionalized oxa-bridged dibenzooxacines with excellent yields and stereoselectivity in a single synthetic step. The combination of rhodium and chiral phosphoric acid catalysis working in concert to generate both transient intermediates in situ provides direct access to complex bicyclic products with two quaternary and one tertiary stereogenic centers. The products may be further functionalized into valuable and enantiomerically highly enriched building blocks.

71 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Owing to the mild reaction conditions, the good stereoselectivity profile, and the ready availability of the functionalized precursors, this process constitutes a useful and straightforward strategy for the synthesis of densely functionalized silacycles.
Abstract: A novel and unusual palladium-catalyzed [4+2] annulation of cyclopropenes with benzosilacyclobutanes is reported. This reaction occurred through chemoselective Si-C(sp2 ) bond activation in synergy with ring expansion/insertion of cyclopropenes to form new C(sp2 )-C(sp3 ) and Si-C(sp3 ) bonds. An array of previously elusive bicyclic skeleton with high strain, silabicyclo[4.1.0]heptanes, were formed in good yields with excellent diastereoselectivity under mild conditions. An asymmetric version of the reaction with a chiral phosphoramidite ligand furnished a variety of chiral bicyclic silaheterocycle derivatives with good enantioselectivity (up to 95.5:4.5 er). Owing to the mild reaction conditions, the good stereoselectivity profile, and the ready availability of the functionalized precursors, this process constitutes a useful and straightforward strategy for the synthesis of densely functionalized silacycles.

66 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study presents the synthesis of 5,6-fused bicyclic conjugated energetic compounds through a combined strategy of anchoring the catenated nitrogen-atom chain and introducing vicinal C-amino and C-nitro groups into a tetrazolo-pyridazine ring.

63 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reported a catalyst-controlled divergent access to three classes of medium-sized bicyclic compounds in high efficiency and stereoselectivity, by palladium-catalysed cycloadditions of tropones with γ-methylidene-δ-valerolactones.
Abstract: Medium-sized rings, including those embedded in bridged and fused bicyclic scaffolds, are common core structures of myriad bioactive molecules. Among various synthetic strategies towards their synthesis, intermolecular higher-order cycloaddition provides great potential to build complex medium-sized rings from simple building blocks. Unfortunately, such transformations are often plagued with competitive reaction pathways and low levels of site- and stereoselectivity. Herein, we report catalyst-controlled divergent access to three classes of medium-sized bicyclic compounds in high efficiency and stereoselectivity, by palladium-catalysed cycloadditions of tropones with γ-methylidene-δ-valerolactones. Mechanistic studies and density functional theory calculations disclosed that the divergent reactions stem from the different reaction profiles of the diastereomeric intermediates. While one undergoes either O- or C-allylation to provide [5.5.0] or [4.4.1] bicyclic compounds, the unique conformation of the other diastereomer allows an unconventional alkene isomerization to deliver bridgehead alkene-containing bicyclo[4.4.1] compounds. The conversion of these products to diverse complex polycyclic scaffolds has also been demonstrated. Using readily accessible tropones and γ-methylidene-δ-valerolactones, the divergent synthesis of three classes of challenging [5.5.0] or [4.4.1] bicyclic systems has been achieved—with high efficiency and stereoselectivity—through Pd-catalysed higher-order cycloaddition. Mechanistic studies and density functional theory calculations indicate that the divergent reactions arise from the different reactivity of two diastereomeric intermediates.

62 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of the anti-COVID-19 drug remdesivir has been realized via the coupling of the P-racemic phosphoryl chloride with protected nucleoside GS441524.
Abstract: The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of the anti-COVID-19 drug remdesivir has been realized via the coupling of the P-racemic phosphoryl chloride with protected nucleoside GS441524. The chiral bicyclic imidazole catalyst is crucial for the dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation (DyKAT) to proceed smoothly with high reactivity and excellent stereoselectivity [96% conv., 22:1 P(S):P(R)]. Mechanistic studies showed that this DyKAT is a first-order visual kinetic reaction dependent on catalyst concentration. The unique chiral bicyclic imidazole skeleton and carbamate substituent of the catalyst are both required for the racemization process involving the phosphoryl chloride and subsequent stereodiscriminating step. A 10-gram scale reaction was also conducted with comparably excellent results, showing its potential for industrial application.

60 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Three- and four-component 1,3-difunctionalizations of [1.1. 1.1]propellane are reported with organometallic reagents, organoboronic esters and a variety of electrophiles to achieve versatile intermediates whose electrophile-induced 1,2-metallate rearrangement chemistry enables a broad range of C-C bond-forming reactions.
Abstract: 1,3-Disubstituted bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (BCPs) are valuable bioisosteres of para-substituted aromatic rings. The most direct route to these structures is via multicomponent ring-opening reactions of [1.1.1]propellane. However, challenges associated with these transformations mean that difunctionalized BCPs are more commonly prepared by multistep reaction sequences with BCP-halide intermediates. Herein, we report three- and four-component 1,3-difunctionalizations of [1.1.1]propellane with organometallic reagents, organoboronic esters, and a variety of electrophiles. This process is achieved by trapping intermediate BCP-metal species with boronic esters to form boronate complexes, which are versatile intermediates whose electrophile-induced 1,2-metallate rearrangement chemistry enables a broad range of C-C bond-forming reactions.

52 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: New luminescent carbene-metalamide (CMA) complexes based on monocyclic (C6) or bicyclic six-ring (BIC6) cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbene ligands illustrate the effects of LUMO energy.
Abstract: New luminescent “carbene–metal–amide” (CMA) Cu, Ag, and Au complexes based on monocyclic (C6) or bicyclic six-ring (BIC6) cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene ligands illustrate the effects of LUMO energy ...

44 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Synthetic applications include an efficient one‐pot synthesis of 4‐aryl‐4H‐pyrans as well as the rapid construction of various heterocyclic, bicyclic, and polycyclic compounds.
Abstract: For the first time, the monoalkoxycarbonylation of easily available 1,3-diynes to give synthetically useful conjugated enynes has been realized. Key to success was the design and utilization of the new ligand 2,2'-bis(tert-butyl(pyridin-2-yl)phosphanyl)-1,1'-binaphthalene (Neolephos), which permits the palladium-catalyzed selective carbonylation under mild conditions, providing a general preparation of functionalized 1,3-enynes in good-to-high yields with excellent chemoselectivities. Synthetic applications that showcase the possibilities of this novel methodology include an efficient one-pot synthesis of 4-aryl-4H-pyrans as well as the rapid construction of various heterocyclic, bicyclic, and polycyclic compounds.

32 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the first success of the regioselective dearomatization of indoles in the carbocyclic ring and the pyrrole ring was induced by ortho-quinone methides and vinylogous iminium intermediates.
Abstract: Hydride transfer enabled the first success of the regioselective dearomatization of indoles in the carbocyclic ring and the pyrrole ring, which was induced by ortho-quinone methides and vinylogous iminium intermediates. A variety of spiro cyclohexaketenes featuring the dearomatized indoles and carbazoles as well as spiroindolenines were provided in moderate to high yields. The formidable challenge of switchable dearomatization of fused bicyclic aromatic compounds was addressed.

31 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: How the ESAA in benzene and 6π-electron heterocycles trigger photochemical distortions that provide access to complex three-dimensional molecular scaffolds from simple reactants is revealed.
Abstract: Benzene exhibits a rich photochemistry which can provide access to complex molecular scaffolds that are difficult to access with reactions in the electronic ground state. While benzene is aromatic ...

Journal ArticleDOI
Xinpei Cai1, Weida Liang1, Mingxin Liu1, Xiating Li1, Mingji Dai1 
TL;DR: A novel palladium-catalyzed ring opening carbonylative lactonization of readily available hydroxycyclopropanols was developed to efficiently synthesize tetrahydrofuran (THF), and the fused bicyclic γ-lactones can be easily diversified to other medicinally important scaffolds, which further broadens the application of this new carbonylation method.
Abstract: A novel palladium-catalyzed ring opening carbonylative lactonization of readily available hydroxycyclopropanols was developed to efficiently synthesize tetrahydrofuran (THF) or tetrahydropyran (THP)-fused bicyclic γ-lactones, two privileged scaffolds often found in natural products. The reaction features mild reaction conditions, good functional group tolerability, and scalability. Its application was demonstrated in a short total synthesis of (±)-paeonilide. The fused bicyclic γ-lactone products can be easily diversified to other medicinally important scaffolds, which further broadens the application of this new carbonylation method.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Two efficient pathways for the rapid preparation of over 20 structurally diverse BCB ketones, encompassing simple alkyl and aryl derivatives, as well as unprecedented amino acid, dipeptide, bioisostere, and bifunctional linchpin reagents currently inaccessible using literature methods are disclosed.
Abstract: Bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes (BCBs) are highly strained carbocycles that have emerged as versatile synthetic tools, particularly for the construction of functionalized small molecules. This work reports two efficient pathways for the rapid preparation of over 20 structurally diverse BCB ketones, encompassing simple alkyl and aryl derivatives, as well as unprecedented amino acid, dipeptide, bioisostere, and bifunctional linchpin reagents currently inaccessible using literature methods. Analogues are readily forged in two steps and in high yields from simple carboxylic acids or through unsymmetrical ketone synthesis beginning with a convenient carbonyl dication equivalent. The utility of this novel toolbox of strained electrophiles for the selective modification of proteinogenic nucleophiles is highlighted.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Cobalt tetra-2,3 pyridiniumporphyrazinato with sulfonic acid tag [Co(TPPASO3H)]Cl was produced and catalyzed the synthesis of ortho-aminocarbonitriles, cyclohexa-1,3-dienamines and 2-amino-3-cyanopyridines as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Cobalt tetra-2,3-pyridiniumporphyrazinato with sulfonic acid tag [Co(TPPASO3H)]Cl was produced and catalyzed the synthesis of ortho-aminocarbonitriles, cyclohexa-1,3-dienamines and 2-amino-3-cyanopyridines. The synthesis of 2-amino-3-cyanopyridines by using [Co(TPPASO3H)]Cl proceeded via a cooperative vinylogous anomeric based oxidation mechanism. [Co(TPPASO3H)]Cl can be recycled and reused six times with a marginal decreasing of its catalytic activity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is revealed that rational structure-guided laboratory evolution can expand the substrate scope of Fdc, resulting in activity on a range of mono- and bicyclic aromatic compounds through a single mutation, and that UbiD-mediated C–H activation is a versatile tool for the transformation of aryl/alkene compounds and CO2 into commodity chemicals.
Abstract: The direct C–H carboxylation of aromatic compounds is an attractive route to the corresponding carboxylic acids, but remains challenging under mild conditions. It has been proposed that the first step in anaerobic microbial degradation of recalcitrant aromatic compounds is a UbiD-mediated carboxylation. In this study, we use the UbiD enzyme ferulic acid decarboxylase (Fdc) in combination with a carboxylic acid reductase to create aromatic degradation-inspired cascade reactions, leading to efficient functionalization of styrene through CO2 fixation. We reveal that rational structure-guided laboratory evolution can expand the substrate scope of Fdc, resulting in activity on a range of mono- and bicyclic aromatic compounds through a single mutation. Selected variants demonstrated 150-fold improvement in the conversion of coumarillic acid to benzofuran + CO2 and unlocked reactivity towards naphthoic acid. Our data demonstrate that UbiD-mediated C–H activation is a versatile tool for the transformation of aryl/alkene compounds and CO2 into commodity chemicals. Biocatalytic cascade reactions using engineered variants of ferulic acid decarboxylase coupled to carboxylic acid reductase utilize carbon dioxide fixation to enable the carboxylation and functionalization of styrene and other aromatic compounds.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A broad range of structurally dense tetra- and penta-substituted bicyclic[3,3,0]octene derivatives, containing a quaternary center and three sequential stereogenic center, were synthesized in good to excellent yields.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Experimental results suggest the aldehydic H-shift and ring-closure to produce an epoxide functionality could be competitive with classic decomposition of alkoxy radicals in benzene photo-oxidation, which are potential sources of highly oxygenated molecules.
Abstract: Emissions of aromatic compounds cause air pollution and detrimental health effects. Here, we explore the reaction kinetics and products of key radicals in benzene photo-oxidation. After initial OH addition and reaction with O2, the effective production rates of phenol and bicyclic peroxy radical (BCP-peroxy) are experimentally constrained at 295 K to be 420 ± 80 and 370 ± 70 s-1, respectively. These rates lead to approximately 53% yield for phenol and 47% yield for BCP-peroxy under atmospheric conditions. The reaction of BCP-peroxy with NO produces bicyclic hydroxy nitrate with a branching ratio <0.2%, indicating efficient NOx recycling. Similarly, the reaction of BCP-peroxy with HO2 largely recycles HOx, producing the corresponding bicyclic alkoxy radical (BCP-oxy). Because of the presence of C-C double bonds and multiple functional groups, the chemistry of BCP-oxy and other alkoxy radicals in the system is diverse. Experimental results suggest the aldehydic H-shift and ring-closure to produce an epoxide functionality could be competitive with classic decomposition of alkoxy radicals. These reactions are potential sources of highly oxygenated molecules. Finally, despite the large number of compounds observed in our study, we are unable to account for ∼20% of the carbon flow.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Under atmospheric conditions, the reaction of OH radical with AN and the subsequent reactions with O2 molecules are investigated and the results indicate that the majority of O2 addition goes to the anti-directions with a branching ratio of 97.7% and produces the bicyclic peroxy radicals (BPRs) that can react with NO radical to form bicyclic alkoxy radical (BARs).


Journal ArticleDOI
Jun Cao1, Rong-Guo Shi1, Jing Sun1, Dan Liu1, Ruzhang Liu1, Xiaonan Xia1, Yang Wang1, Chao-Guo Yan1 
TL;DR: This reaction clearly demonstrated the high efficiency, molecular convergence, atom-economy and impressive selectivity of multicomponent reaction.
Abstract: Triethylamine promoted the pseudo-five-component reaction of aromatic aldehyde with four molecules of 1,3-indanediones in refluxing ethanol to give unique polycyclic bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives containing bridged- and spiro-indanone scaffolds in good yields. The mechanistic studies supported that the reaction included base-catalyzed cyclotrimerization of 1,3-indanedione to give an active cyclic diene and the sequential Diels-Alder reaction with in situ generated 2-arylidene-1,3-indanediones as electron-deficient dienophiles. On the other hand, the pseudo-four-component reaction of salicylaldehyde with 1,3-indanedione afforded the dibenzo[b,g]indeno[1',2':3,4]fluoreno[1,2-d]oxonines in high yields. This reaction clearly demonstrated the high efficiency, molecular convergence, atom-economy, and impressive selectivity of multicomponent reactions.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The asymmetric CP-RA for exocyclic vinyl substrates without a pro-stereogenic carbon at the β-position has been realized for the first time, and thus broad substrate scope with excellent results has been achieved.
Abstract: A highly enantioselective synthesis of various chiral heterobicyclic molecules including spiroaminals and fused bicyclic acetals has been developed via a chiral copper catalyzed cyclopropanation-rearrangement (CP-RA) approach under mild reaction conditions. Remarkably, the asymmetric CP-RA for exocyclic vinyl substrates without a pro-stereogenic carbon at the β-position has been realized for the first time and a broad substrate scope with excellent results (33 examples; 34-99 % yields; >95/5 dr and 91-99 % ee) has been achieved. An application of a successive enantioselective CP-RA approach was also described, providing a concise access to complex chiral heteropolycycles.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: High-level DFT calculations reveal that these cyclization processes proceed via 1,1-addition to the terminal N of diazomethane followed by 1,2-boron-migration affording the five membered rings.
Abstract: FLPs, R2POBcat (R = tBu 1, Mes 2), are readily derived from the reactions of the corresponding phosphine oxides, nBuLi and ClBcat. Despite the poor Lewis acidity of boron, these species react with PhOH, CO2, CS2, PhNCO, MesCNO, O2, 9,10-phenanthrenedione, and diazomethanes to effect FLP addition reactions affording a series of heterocycles. The reaction of 1 with EtO2CCHN2 gives the bicyclic product, EtO2CCHN2(tBu2POBcat)2. High-level DFT calculations reveal that these cyclization processes proceed via 1,1-addition to the terminal N of diazomethane followed by 1,2-boron-migration affording the five membered rings. The reaction of the EtO2CCHN2 derivative with the second equivalent of FLP 1 is attributed to less steric demands.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the influence of an Al(III) aminotriphenolate complex on the regio-... has been investigated in the case of carbon dioxide into organic molecules using catalytic approaches.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the absorption capacity of bicyclic amidine (DBN) with pyrazole derivatives and found that the optimal absorption capacity (0.93 m CO2/mol IL) can be achieved by [DBNH][3-MethylPyr] at 40°C and atmospheric pressure, and the significant increase in CO2 capacity was affected by reactivity of activated nitrogen, steric hindrance and the type of substituents.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The already reported low-yielding and non-sustainable Et3N-mediated homocoupling of levoglucosenone (LGO) into the corresponding LGO-Cyrene™ diketone has been revisited and greened-up.
Abstract: The already-reported, low-yielding, and non-sustainable Et3 N-mediated homocoupling of levoglucosenone (LGO) into the corresponding LGO-CyreneTM diketone has been revisited and greened-up. The use of methanol as both a renewable solvent and catalyst and K2 CO3 as a safe inorganic base improved the reaction significantly with regards to yield, purification, and green aspects. LGO-CyreneTM was then subjected to a one-pot, H2 O2 -mediated Baeyer-Villiger oxidation/rearrangement followed by an acidic hydrolysis to produce a new sterically hindered bicyclic monomer, 2H-HBO-HBO. This diol was further polymerized in bulk with diacyl chlorides to access new promising renewable polyesters that exhibit glass transition temperatures (Tg ) from -1 to 81 °C and a good thermostability with a temperature at which 50 % of the mass is lost (Td50 % ) of 349-406 °C.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A model of the shunt and metabolic pathways of the terrestrial TTX biosynthesis is proposed and the presence of 8-epi-type TTX analogues in both Cynops and Taricha supports a branched biosynthetic pathway ofrestrial TTX, which produces 6- and 8-EPimers.
Abstract: The biosynthesis of tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1), a potent neurotoxin widely distributed in marine and terrestrial metazoans, remains unresolved. A significant issue has been identifying intermediates and...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The binding energy and intermolecular energy values indicate that the title compound possesses anti-cancer property through hydrolase inhibition activity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicate the bicyclic boronate scaffold as both an efficient, long-lasting, KPC-2 inhibitor and capable of supporting further iterations that may improve potency against specific enzyme targets and pre-empt the emergence of inhibitor resistant K PC-2 variants.
Abstract: Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-2 (KPC-2) is a serine-β-lactamase (SBL) capable of hydrolysing almost all β-lactam antibiotics. We compare KPC-2 inhibition by vaborbactam, a clinically-approved monocyclic boronate, and VNRX-5133 (taniborbactam), a bicyclic boronate in late-stage clinical development. Vaborbactam inhibition is slowly reversible, whereas taniborbactam has an off-rate indicating essentially irreversible complex formation and a 15-fold higher on-rate, although both potentiate β-lactam activity against KPC-2-expressing K. pneumoniae. High resolution X-ray crystal structures reveal closely related binding modes for both inhibitors to KPC-2, with differences apparent only in positioning of the endocyclic boronate ester oxygen. The results indicate the bicyclic boronate scaffold as both an efficient, long-lasting, KPC-2 inhibitor and capable of supporting further iterations that may improve potency against specific enzyme targets and pre-empt the emergence of inhibitor resistant KPC-2 variants.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This work establishes the value of underutilized aziridinium ylides as key intermediates for converting small, strained rings to larger N- heterocycles and assemble stereochemically complex and highly substituted dehydropiperidines via an intermolecular ring expansion.
Abstract: The importance of N-heterocycles in drugs has stimulated diverse methods for their efficient syntheses. Methods that introduce significant stereochemical complexity are attractive for identifying new bioactive amine chemical space. Here, we report a [3 + 3] ring expansion of bicyclic aziridines and rhodium-bound vinyl carbenes to form complex dehydropiperidines in a highly stereocontrolled rearrangement. Mechanistic studies and DFT computations indicate that the reaction proceeds through formation of a vinyl aziridinium ylide; this reactive intermediate undergoes a pseudo-[1,4]-sigmatropic rearrangement to directly furnish heterocyclic products with net retention at the new C-C bond. In combination with asymmetric silver-catalyzed aziridination, enantioenriched scaffolds with up to three contiguous stereocenters are rapidly delivered. The mild reaction conditions, functional group tolerance, and high stereospecificity of this method are well-suited for appending piperidine motifs to natural product and complex molecules. Ultimately, our work establishes the value of underutilized aziridinium ylides as key intermediates for converting small, strained rings to larger N-heterocycles. Traditional synthesis of stereodefined piperidines requires selective installation of functional groups that can lower efficiency and modularity. Here, the authors assemble stereochemically complex and highly substituted dehydropiperidines via an intermolecular ring expansion between bicyclic aziridines and Rh-supported vinyl carbenes.