Formation of 3-pyrrolin-2-one or imidazolidine derivatives by slow dimerization of N-substituted aziridine-2-carboxylates

Prolonged storage (45–60 days) of N-methyl- or N-cyclopropylaziridine-2-carboxylates leads to their dimerization through the N—C(3) bond cleavage to form 1,3-disubstituted 2-methylimidazolidine-2,4-dicarboxylates in high yields. Prolonged storage of 1-benzyl-aziridine-2-carboxylate (like the reactions of alkyl pyruvates with primary amines) results in cyclocondensation to yield 3-pyrrolin-2-one derivative.