AMINOEPOXIDES FROM AMINOALDEHYDES AND IN-SITU FORMED HALOMETHYL ORGANOMETALLIC REAGENT

A method of preparing an aminoepoxide wherein a protected aminoaldehyde is reacted with a halomethyl organometallic reagent in an appropriate solvent at a temperature above -80 .degree.C, wherein said halomethyl organometallic reagent is formed by reaction between an organometallic reagent and a dihalomethane, the improvement comprising flowing said protected aminoaldehyde into a mixing zone maintained at a temperature below 0 .degree.C, also flowing said halomethyl organometallic reagent in said mixing zone for contacting in said mixing zone with said protected aminoaldehyde and also withdrawing from said mixing zone reaction products of said protected aminoaldehyde and said halomethyl organometallic reagent. The obtained aminoepoxides are useful, through amine opening of the epoxide ring, as intermediates in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, e.g. HIV protease inhibitors.