Distinction of symmetric lithium dialkylamide dimers from higher oligomers by inverse-detected nitrogen-15 homonuclear zero-quantum NMR spectroscopy

Conformational Polymorphism of Lithium Pinacolone Enolate

A metastable, polymorphic hexameric crystal structure of lithium pinacolone enolate (LiOPin) is reported along with three preparation methods. NMR-based structural characterization implies that the lithium pinacolate hexamer deaggregates to a tetramer in toluene but retains mainly the hexameric structure in nonaromatic hydrocarbon solvents such as cyclohexane. Moreover, the presence of a small amount of lithium aldolate (LiOA) dramatically influences the aggregation state of LiOPin by forming a mixed aggregate with a 3:1 ratio (LiOPin₃·LiOA).

Synthetic and Structural Studies of Mixed Sodium Bis(trimethylsilyl)amide/Sodium Halide Aggregates in the Presence of η(2)-N,N-, η(3)-N,N,N/N,O,N-, and η(4)-N,N,N,N-Donor Ligands

When n-hexane solutions of an excess of sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (NaHMDS) are combined with cesium halide (halide = Cl, Br, or I) in the presence of the tetradentate donor molecule [tris[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine] (Me6TREN), the isolation and characterization of a series of sodium amide/sodium halide mixed aggregates was forthcoming. Cesium halide was employed because it efficiently reacted with NaHMDS to produce a molecular, soluble source of sodium halide salt (which was subsequently captured by an excess of NaHMDS) via a methathetical reaction. These mixed sodium amide/sodium halide complexes are formally sodium sodiates, are deficient in halide with respect to the amide, and have the general formula [{Na5(μ-HMDS)5(μ5-X)}{Na(Me6TREN)}] [where X = Cl (1), Br (2), or I (3)]. The influence of the donor ligand was studied for the NaI/NaHMDS system, and when n-hexane solutions of this composition were treated with tridentate donors such as N,N,N',N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) or N,N,N',N'-tetramethyldiaminoethyl ether (TMDAE), solvent-separated ion-pair cocomplexes [Na5(μ-HMDS)5(μ5-I)](-)[Na3(μ-HMDS)2(PMDETA)2](+) (4) and [Na5(μ-HMDS)5(μ5-I)](-)[Na(TMDAE)2](+) (5) were isolated. However, upon reaction with bidentate proligands such as the chiral diamine (R,R)-N,N,N',N'-tetramethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine [(R,R)-TMCDA] or N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), neutral complexes [Na4(μ-HMDS)3(μ4-I)(donor)2] [donor = (R,R)-TMCDA (6) and TMEDA (7)] were produced. To illustrate the generality of the latter reaction with other halides, [Na4(μ-HMDS)3(μ4-Br)(TMEDA)2] (8) was also prepared by employing NaBr in the synthesis instead of NaI.

Synthetically important alkali-metal utility amides: lithium, sodium, and potassium hexamethyldisilazides, diisopropylamides, and tetramethylpiperidides

Most synthetic chemists will have at some point utilized a sterically demanding secondary amide (R2 N(-) ). The three most important examples, lithium 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS), lithium diisopropylamide (LiDA), and lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (LiTMP)-the "utility amides"-have long been indispensible particularly for lithiation (Li-H exchange) reactions. Like organolithium compounds, they exhibit aggregation phenomena and strong Lewis acidity, and thus appear in distinct forms depending on the solvents employed. The structural chemistry of these compounds as well as their sodium and potassium congeners are described in the absence or in the presence of the most synthetically significant donor solvents tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) or closely related solvents. Examples of hetero-alkali-metal amides, an increasingly important composition because of the recent escalation of interest in mixed-metal synergic effects, are also included.

Experimental and theoretical study of tunable 1,3-lithium shift of propargylic/allenylic species, transmetallation, and Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

The highly selective tuning of the isomerization from 1-arylalka-1,2-dien-1-yllithium to 1-arylalka-1,2-dien-3-yllithium has been realized in the deprotonation of 1-arylalk-1-yne (conditions A and B) and carbolithiation of 1-arylbut-3-en-1-yne with alkyllithium (conditions C and D). Subsequent transmetallation and Pd-catalyzed Negishi coupling reactions afforded 1,1-diaryl or 1,3-diaryl allenes with high selectivity. Deuterium-labeling cross experiments indicated that an intermolecular lithiation process occurred in both 1,3-lithium shift conditions (conditions B and D). 1-Arylalka-1,2-diene was confirmed experimentally to be the intermediate. A computational study at the B3LYP level for the isomerization indicated that the acidity of H at the 3-position is higher than that of the H at the 1-position of 1-phenyl-1,2-butadiene. Under conditions B, iPr(2)NH acts as a proton carrier to finish the 1,3-lithium shift. The overall activation barrier for the rate-determining step in the solvated models is approximately 21.0 kcal mol(-1), indicating that the isomerization is reasonable at room temperature. For the isomerization under conditions D, DFT calculations indicated that the addition of TMEDA (tetramethylethylenediamine) and HMPA (hexamethylphosphoramide) changes the global minimum of the system; among the possible mechanisms (P1-P5) considered, the mechanism catalyzed by dilithiated species (P5) is the most probable one. The overall activation barriers for isomerization in THF and TMEDA solvated models are 22.6 and 19.7 kcal mol(-1), respectively, proving that the isomerization may proceed at RT in THF or at -78 degrees C with TMEDA, due to the fact that the solvation of the additives may increase the concentration of 1-phenyl-1,2-butadienyllithium monomer by a deaggregation effect.

Density Functional Study of Lithium Hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) Complexes: Effects of Solvation and Aggregation

The title compound, lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS), has been studied using modern quantum-chemical methods in the form of the B3LYP approach. Monomers, dimers, trimers, and tetramers, microsolvated with up to four THF molecules have been considered. The choice of model complex is seen to be important-for instance, the simpler water molecule is shown to be an inappropriate substitute for the THF solvent. Calculated lithium NMR shieldings are reported, but by themselves, they seem to be insufficient for unequivocal assignments of the different species. The energetics of aggregation and solvation have been studied. Temperature effects are seen to be important, and the degrees of solvation and aggregation are higher at 0 K than at 298 K. The highest degree of THF solvation for the monomer and dimer is found to be three (0 K) and two (298 K), respectively. The highest possible degree of aggregation for unsolvated LiHMDS is four. However, in nonpolar solvents, formation of the LiHDMS dimer from the trimer is thermodynamically preferred. The pathway is likely to involve an intermediate tetramer. In THF solution, di-solvated monomers and dimers are the most likely species.

Studies on the Base-Promoted Conversion of Conjugated Alkynyl Esters to α-Substituted α-Allenyl Esters

We report the development of an efficient method for the conversion of a variety of conjugated alkynyl esters to alpha-substituted conjugated allenyl esters (racemic) through the use of strong amide bases. Substantially improved yields over typical enolate formation conditions were observed with the use of 2 equiv of lithium diisopropylamide. Trapping studies indicate that the second equivalent of base likely leads to the dianion intermediate, which upon addition of methyl iodide, trimethylsilyl chloride, or tributyltin chloride gives mixtures of alpha-substituted conjugated allenyl and beta,gamma-alkynyl deconjugated esters. Further optimization revealed that additive salts such as LiCl lead primarily to the allenyl product while the use of HMPA as a cosolvent gives the beta,gamma-alkynyl deconjugated alkylation product. The role of base, base concentration, and electrophile on product yield and selectivity is also discussed.

Structure, Bonding, and Solvation of Dilithiodiamines

Computational methods were used to determine the structure of dilithiodiamines and the effects of solvation by ethereal solvents. Solvation was examined by the use of microsolvation with explicit dimethyl ether or THF ligands and by the combined use of microsolvation and the IEFPCM continuum solvent model. It was determined that each of the compounds studied exists exclusively as a bridged intramolecular dimer, both in the gas phase and in solution. Thermodynamic properties were calculated at 200 and 298 K to estimate the effect of temperature on the cyclization energies. Infrared spectroscopy was used to confirm the proposed intramolecular dimer structures.

Lithium 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidide-Mediated α- and β-Lithiations of Epoxides: Solvent-Dependent Mechanisms

Lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (LiTMP)-mediated alpha- and beta-lithiations of epoxides are described. LiTMP displays a markedly higher reactivity than does lithium diisopropylamide, consistent with literature reports. Detailed rate studies of LiTMP/THF and LiTMP/Me(2)NEt mixtures reveal similar rates but significant mechanistic differences. LiTMP-mediated alpha-lithiation of cis-cyclooctene oxide with subsequent oxacarbenoid formation and transannular C-H insertion proceeds via monosolvated dimers in both THF and Me(2)NEt. LiTMP-mediated beta-lithiation of 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene oxide affords the corresponding allylic alcohol via a monosolvated monomer in THF and a monosolvated dimer in Me(2)NEt. We discuss how the solvent-dependent aggregation of LiTMP markedly influences the rate profile. The reaction transition structures are examined with density functional computations.

Study of the lithiated phenylacetonitrile monoanions and dianions formed according to the lithiated base used (LHMDS, LDA, or n-BuLi). 1. Evidence of heterodimer ("Quadac") or dianion formation by vibrational spectroscopy

It is evidenced through vibrational spectroscopy that a heterodimer or "Quadac" is formed when an excess of base (LHMDS, LDA, or n-BuLi) is added to PhCH(2)CN in THF, THF-hexane, or THF-toluene solution. The amount of heterodimer increases with the pK(H)(a) of the lithiated base. A dianionic species may be formed through decomposition of this heterodimer if the pK(H)(a) of the base is sufficiently high, as in the case of n-BuLi. With LDA, only a very small amount of dianion is observed, and with LHMDS, no dianion is detected. The predominant dianionic species observed are the linear and bridged separated ion pairs of the dilithiated dianion. The presence of the amine in the medium is of paramount importance. The PhCHCNLi monomer-dimer equilibrium is entropy driven toward the dimer solvated by the amine.

Lithium diisopropylamide: oligomer structures at low ligand concentrations

One- and two-dimensional (6)Li and (15)N NMR spectroscopic studies of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) solvated by substoichiometric concentrations of oxetane, THF, Et(2)O, and diisopropylamine are described. Partially solvated dimers and trimers are identified. Possible benefits of carrying out organolithium chemistry at low ligand concentrations are discussed.

A Novel One-Step Diastereo- and Enantioselective Formation of trans-Azetidinones and Its Application to the Total Synthesis of Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors

An efficient and practical asymmetric process was developed for the synthesis of azetidinone-based cholesterol absorption inhibitors. Key to this synthesis was the discovery of a novel one-step diastereo- and enantioselective formation of trans beta-lactams starting from commercially available 3(S)-hydroxy-gamma-lactone. Various trans beta-lactams can be prepared in good yields and with better than 95:5 enantio- and diastereoselctivity. A Lewis acid-catalyzed aldol condensation and a highly enantioselective oxazaborolidine-catalyzed chiral reduction completes the side chain.