Evaluation of the Chiral DIANANE Backbone as Ligand for Organolithium Reagents

Electrophile dependent mechanisms in the asymmetric trapping of α-lithio-N-(tert-butoxythiocarbonyl)azetidine

Sn-Li exchange and 'poor man's Hoffmann tests' establish asymmetric trapping of α-lithio-N-(tert-butoxythiocarbonyl) (Botc) azetidine to be controlled by dynamic thermodynamic resolution or dynamic kinetic resolution, depending on the electrophile. Unusually, different configurational stability is seen for the anion generated by lithiation compared to transmetallation. Configurational stability of α-lithio-N-Boc azetidine indicates instability with the N-Botc system is due to the C[double bond, length as m-dash]S group.

Synthesis and Homologation of an Azetidin-2-yl Boronic Ester with α-Lithioalkyl Triisopropylbenzoates

An α-boryl azetidine, obtained by α-lithiation-borylation of N-Botc azetidine, undergoes reaction with α-triisopropylbenzoyloxy organolithiums to give homologated boronic esters that can be further oxidized, homologated, arylated, and deprotected to give a range of α-substituted azetidines. Scalemic α-boryl azetidine-α-triisopropylbenzoyloxy organolithium pairings show stereospecific reagent control, providing access to either diastereomeric series of homologated boronic esters with very high er's.

Recent advances in the chemistry of metallated azetidines

The almost unexplored four-membered azetidines represent a particularly interesting class of molecules, among the family of saturated nitrogen heterocycles. This review reports recent developments in direct metal-based functionalization of the azetidine ring, focusing on the regio- and stereoselectivity of these reactions.

Asymmetric bromine-lithium exchange: on the importance of both the diamine ligand and the organolithium reagent

The asymmetric bromine-lithium exchange on a series of prochiral biphenyls was investigated. As in many asymmetric organolithium reactions, the chiral ligand (here a diamine) was considered to be the enantiocontrolling element. We show here that the organolithium reagent also plays an important role.

Amine protection/α-activation with the tert-butoxythiocarbonyl group: application to azetidine lithiation-electrophilic substitution

tert-Butoxythiocarbonyl (Botc), the long-neglected thiocarbonyl analogue of Boc, facilitates (unlike its alkoxycarbonyl cousin) α-lithiation and electrophile incorporation on N-Botc-azetidine. N,N,N',N'-endo,endo-Tetramethyl-2,5-diaminonorbornane proved optimal as a chiral ligand, generating adducts with er up to 92:8. Facile deprotection, under conditions that left the corresponding N-Boc systems intact, was achieved using either TFA or via thermolysis in ethanol.