Ring-opening and cyclization of aziridines with aryl azides: metal-free synthesis of 6-(triflyloxy)quinolines

Ring-opening and cyclization of aziridines with aryl azides in the presence of TfOH has been developed. This strategy enables the construction of 6-(triflyloxy)quinoline cores by utilizing aziridine as a two-carbon surrogate. The introduction of a trifyl group at the 6-position of quinoline would allow further construction of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds in the cross-coupling reactions.