A Highly Diastereomerically Enriched, Silyl-Substituted Alkyl Lithium, Configurationally Stable at Room Temperature

Facile continuous process for gas phase halogen exchange over supported alkyl phosphonium salts

Chloride–bromide halogen exchange was realized when a mixture of an alkyl chloride and an alkyl bromide were reacted over a supported molten alkyl phosphonium catalyst. Conversion was found to be near equilibrium in a tubular flow reactor at 150 °C and 1500 GHSV. The catalyst was prepared by impregnation of alumina or silica support and found to be highly stable for relatively long periods of time. A pathway for the catalytic cycle is proposed.

Chloride–bromide halogen exchange was realized when a mixture of an alkyl chloride and an alkyl bromide were reacted over a supported molten alkyl phosphonium catalyst.

A diastereomerically enriched, dimeric organolithium compound and the stereochemical course of its transformations

A dimeric α-silylated ethyllithium compound is presented featuring stereogenic metalated carbon centres with defined configurations. It can be generated by diastereoselective deprotonation of the corresponding ethylsilane. Reaction with Me(3)SnCl proceeds under inversion and the transfer of the stereoinformation is possible with dr's of up to 97:3.

Dynamic thermodynamic resolution: advantage by separation of equilibration and resolution

In the investigation of a chemical reaction, researchers typically survey variables such as time, temperature, and stoichiometry to optimize yields. This Account demonstrates how control of these variables, often in nontraditional ways, can provide significant improvements in enantiomeric ratios for asymmetric reactions. Dynamic thermodynamic resolution (DTR) offers a convenient method for the resolution of enantiomeric products in the course of a reaction. This process depends on an essential requirement: the equilibration of the penultimate diastereomers must be subject to external control. As a general case, the reaction of A(R), A(S) with B under the influence of the chiral species, L*, gives resolved products C(R) and C(S). In the first step of dynamic resolution under thermodynamic control, the enantiomeric reactants A(R) and A(S) and L* form the diastereomers A(R)/L* and A(S)/L*. The equilibrium between A(R) and A(S) can be rapid, slow, or not operative, and L* can represent a ligand, an auxiliary, or a crystallization process that provides a chiral environment. Second, the populations of the diastereomers are controlled, usually by thermal equilibration. Finally, the reaction of the diastereomers with a reagent B provides the enantiomeric products C(R) and C(S). The control of the diastereomeric equilibrium distinguishes DTR from other resolution techniques. By contrast, physical resolutions separate thermodynamically stable, nonequilibrating diastereomers, and dynamic kinetic resolutions utilize kinetic control for reactions of rapidly equilibrating diastereomers. The dynamic thermodynamic resolutions discussed in this Account illustrate cases of significantly improved enantioselectivities using this technique. Although many of the well-recognized cases come from organolithium chemistry, the principles are general, and we also present cases facilitated by other chemistries. This approach has been used to control enantioselectivities in a number of different reactions, with improvements in enantiomeric ratios up to 99% from essentially racemic reactants.

Silylenes, Silenes, and Disilenes: Novel Silicon-Based Reagents for Organic Synthesis?

Silylenes, silenes, and disilenes are silicon analogues of carbenes and alkenes. Since the first detection and isolation of these species a few decades ago, focus has been given to their fundamental structure and reactivity properties. Recent developments show that the time is set to exploit their unique chemistry in applied areas. Emerging applications in catalysis and stereoselective synthesis point to a new field within synthetic organosilicon chemistry.