Transition metal-catalyzed functionalization of hydrocarbons is a fundamental process of paramount importance in organic synthesis. Among the numerous existing methodologies, catalyzed atom transfer to olefins plays a pivotal role since it allows access to aziridines, 1amino alcohols, 2 diols, 2, 3 and epoxides. 1, 4 In the latter case, iodosylbenzene5 (PhIdO) 1 has been extensively used as a primary oxygen atom source in combination with manganese, iron, ruthenium or chromium catalysts. 1, 6 In a theoretical study, even copper complexes were found to transfer oxygen from 1 to cyclohexene. 7

Copper complexes formed from the aza-analogue of 1, that is [N-(p-toluenesulfonyl) imino] phenyliodinane (PhIdNTs) display a high capacity to catalyze aziridination of olefins. 8 Among the many known metal-catalyzed nitrene-transfer reactions, 1 this process represents the method of choice and has been successfully applied to the total synthesis of natural or biologically active products. 9 The commercial availability of easy-to-handle copper-(I) and particularly-(II) complexes makes this reaction highly practical. Moreover, a wide array of olefins reacts to give N-(sulfonylated) aziridines in moderate to excellent yields. Finally, several iminoiodinanes, differing in the substituents attached to the sulfonyl group, have been developed as sources of nitrene for synthetic applications. 10 However, one of the major drawbacks