Configurational stability of chiral organolithium compounds on the time scale of their addition to aldehydes

Asymmetric Synthesis of Tertiary Alcohols and Thiols via Nonstabilized Tertiary α-Oxy- and α-Thio-Substituted Organolithium Species

Nonstabilized α-O-substituted tertiary organolithium species are difficult to generate, and the α-S-substituted analogues are configurationally unstable. We now report that they can both be generated easily and trapped with a range of electrophiles with high enantioselectivity, providing ready access to a range of enantioenriched tertiary alcohols and thiols. The configurational stability of the α-S-organolithium species was enhanced by using a less coordinating solvent and short reaction times.

Investigation of functionalized α-chloroalkyllithiums for a stereospecific reagent-controlled homologation approach to the analgesic alkaloid (-)-epibatidine

Four putative functionalized α-chloroakyllithiums RCH2CHLiCl, where R=CHCH2(18 a), CCH (18 b), CH2OBn (18 c), and CH[O(CH2)2O] (18 d), were generated in situ by sulfoxide-lithium exchange from α-chlorosulfoxides, and investigated for the stereospecific reagent-controlled homologation (StReCH) of phenethyl and 2-chloropyrid-5-yl (17) pinacol boronic esters. Deuterium labeling experiments revealed that α-chloroalkyllithiums are quenched by proton transfer from their α-chlorosulfoxide precursors and it was established that this effect compromises the yield of StReCH reactions. Use of α-deuterated α-chlorosulfoxides was discovered to ameliorate the problem by retarding the rate of acid-base chemistry between the carbenoid and its precursor. Carbenoids 18 a and 18 b showed poor StReCH efficacy, particularly the propargyl group bearing carbenoid 18 b, the instability of which was attributed to a facile 1,2-hydride shift. By contrast, 18 d, a carbenoid that benefits from a stabilizing interaction between O and Li atoms gave good StReCH yields. Boronate 17 was chain extended by carbenoids 18 a, 18 b, and 18 d in 16, 0, and 68% yield, respectively; α-deuterated isotopomers D-18 a and D-18 d gave yields of 33 and 79% for the same reaction. Double StReCH of 17 was pursued to target contiguous stereodiads appropriate for the total synthesis of (-)-epibatidine (15). One-pot double StReCH of boronate 17 by two exposures to (S)-D-18 a (≤66 % ee), followed by work-up with KOOH, gave the expected stereodiad product in 16% yield (d.r.~67:33). The comparable reaction using two exposures to (S)-D-18 d (≤90% ee) delivered the expected bisacetal containing stereodiad (R,R)-DD-48 in 40% yield (≥98% ee, d.r.=85:15). Double StReCH of 17 using (S)-D-18 d (≤90% ee) followed by (R)-D-18 d (≤90% ee) likewise gave (R,S)-DD-48 in 49% yield (≥97% ee, d.r.=79:21). (R,S)-DD-48 was converted to a dideuterated isotopomer of a synthetic intermediate in Corey's synthesis of 15.

On the preparation and determination of configurational stability of chiral thio- and bromo[D1]methyllithiums

Thio- and bromo[D₁]methyllithiums (ee 99%) were generated from the respective stannanes by tin–lithium exchange at temperatures ranging from 0 to −95 °C. Thio[D₁]methyllithiums 6 were found to be microscopically configurationally labile on the time scale of the thiophosphate-α-mercaptophosphonate rearrangement even at −95 °C. Thio[D₁]methyllithiums 13a and 13b underwent a thia-[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement down to −95 °C and 13b only down to −50 °C. The former were microscopically configurationally stable below −95 °C, and the latter racemized completely at −50 °C. Chiral bromo[D₁]methyllithiums are chemically unstable at −78 °C but microscopically configurationally stable at the time scale of their addition to benzaldehyde and acetophenone.

Anatomy of long-lasting love affairs with lithium carbenoids: past and present status and future prospects

After a long adolescence, the chemistry of lithium carbenoids has currently been entering its maturity bringing a dowry of a more in-depth and less empirical knowledge of the structure and configurational stability of such double-faced intermediates; this, thanks in particular to the synergistic and harmonic cooperation between calculations and the most modern NMR techniques now at our disposal. Such knowledge has stimulated the development of fruitful stereoselective applications in the field of organic synthesis, providing in addition a rationale to observed selectivities. Such aspects together with the role played by aggregation and solvation on the structure-reactivity relationship are highlighted throughout this Minireview with selected examples extracted from recent literature.

Highly enantioselective reactions of configurationally labile epimeric diamine complexes of lithiated S-benzyl thiocarbamates

Substitution reactions that employ primary-carbamoyl-protected arylmethanethiols are described. The enantiodetermining step was found to occur in the post-deprotonation step as a dynamic thermodynamic resolution with a chiral bis(oxazoline) ligand. The configurationally labile lithium complexes were trapped with various electrophiles to yield different substitution products in good to excellent yields and enantiomeric excesses. The absolute configurations of the substitution products were determined, and the stereochemical pathway of the substitution reaction was elucidated for different classes of electrophiles. The temperature-dependent epimerization process was monitored by 1H and 6Li NMR spectroscopy.

Configurational Stability of Oxymethyllithiums as Intermediates in Intramolecular Rearrangements

Several homochiral oxymethyllithiums, chiral by virtue of the hydrogen isotopes protium and deuterium, were prepared. They were tested for their microscopic configurational stability in intramolecular isomerizations, such as the silyl- and germyl-[1,2]-retro-Brook and the sigmatropic[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement. The influence of temperature, solvent, and migrating group on the stability of the intermediate carbanions was studied. Furthermore, the stereochemical course of these rearrangements was elucidated, resulting in highly enantioenriched alcohols (90-97% ee; ee=enantiomeric excess) up to temperatures of 0 degrees C.

Highly diastereoselective lithiation and substitution of an (S)-prolinyl thiocarbamate via sterically homogeneous lithio(thiocarbamate): synthesis of enantiomerically pure prolinethiols

Highly diastereoselective lithiation-substitution reactions of an (S)-proline derived S-alkyl thiocarbamate was accomplished. The configuration of the predominant alkyllithium species and the stereochemical course of the electrophilic substitution reactions are deduced by a combination of X-ray crystal structure analysis, NMR spectroscopic studies, deuteration/dedeuteration experiments, and quantum chemical calculations. The lithium intermediate (S,S)-9 was found to be kinetically and thermodynamically favoured, whereas (S,R)-9 rapidly epimerizes.

Lithium Carbenoids−Ultra-Reactive Yet Selective Reagents for Methylenation and Halomethylenation of Sulfones1

The first efficient, one-pot method for methylenation of p-toluyl sulfones (i.e., the transformation of p-MePhSO2CHR2 into R2CCH2) is described. Methods for effecting that transformation involving alkylation of sulfones with reagents of the general formula MCH2X, where M = SiMe3, SnR3, and MgCl (the Julia method) have been previously described. However, the silicon reagent is completely unreactive toward many sulfones, the tin reagent typically affords only moderate yields, and the magnesium reagent typically gives incomplete reaction (9-40% starting material). This article reports that excellent yields are obtained by alkylating the sulfone with the more ionic lithium methylene carbenoids (LiCH2X, where X = Cl, Br, and I). For example, treatment of sulfone 1 with 3 equiv of n-BuLi (THF, -100 degrees C) followed by 2 equiv of CH2Br2 affords olefin 2 in 96% yield. Although the carbenoid is generated in the presence of a 1:2 mixture of alpha-lithio-sulfone and n-BuLi, it reacts selectively with the alpha-lithio-sulfone (Krel = 9.6 +/- 0.8 with LiCH2Br). The chlorocarbenoid LiCH2Cl reacts somewhat less selectively (Krel = 3.5). The alkyl-substituted carbenoid n-BuCHBrLi reacts > or = 40 times more slowly than LiCH2Br, suggesting that olefination occurs by the SN2 mechanism rather than by metal-assisted ionization (MAI), the mechanism by which cyclopropyl and vinylidene carbenoids react with nucleophiles. Finally, sulfones can be transformed into vinyl halides by treatment with 3 equiv of n-BuLi (THF, -78 degrees C), followed by >2 equiv of diisopropylamine, followed by 3 equiv of dihalomethane (CH2X2, where X2 = Cl2, BrCl, Br2, or I2). All products are formed in high yield and purity.

Highly diastereoselective formation and reactions of a non-mesomerically stabilized, lithiated alpha-thiocarbanion

A new class of non-mesomerically stabilized, unbranched, configurationally stable lithiated alpha-thiocarbanion has been synthesized and its stereospecific reactions with several electrophiles were investigated.

Influence of HMPA on the Stereochemical Outcome of the Addition of a Racemic Allenylzinc onto Enantiopure N-tert-Butanesulfinimines: Stereoselective Access to Enantiopurecis-Ethynylaziridines

In the presence of 60 equivalents of HMPA, the condensation of the racemic allenylzinc derived from 1-chloro-3-trimethylsilylpropyne onto enantiopure non-alpha-branched N-tert-butanesulfinimines was proven to give access to the corresponding cis-ethynylaziridines as the major products. The good cis selectivity observed presumably resulted from a high kinetic resolution with the allenylzinc being partially configurationally labile with respect to the time scale defined by the rate of the reaction. Both single crystal X-ray analysis and semiempirical calculations conducted at the MM2 and AM1 levels of theory proved that the reaction certainly occurred through a preferred synclinal transition state in a supra- or antarafacial S(E)2' process. In all cases, chromatographic purification over silica gel allowed the cis-ethynyl-N-tert-butanesulfinylaziridines to be obtained as diastereo- and enantiomerically pure compounds (dr >98:2 and ee >99%).

Highly functionalized organomagnesium reagents prepared through halogen-metal exchange

Organomagnesium reagents occupy a central position in synthetic organic and organometallic chemistry. Recently, the halogen-magnesium exchange has considerably extended the range of functionalized Grignard reagents available for synthetic purposes. Functional groups such as esters, nitriles, iodides, imines, or even nitro groups can be present in a wide range of aromatic and heterocyclic organomagnesium reagents. Also various highly functionalized alkenyl magnesium species can be prepared. These recent developments as well as new applications of organomagnesium reagents in cross-coupling reactions and amination reactions will be covered in this Review.