Lithium-sulfoxide-lithium exchange for the asymmetric synthesis of atropisomers under thermodynamic control

Jonathan Clayden, David Mitjans, Latifa H. Youssef

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Ortholithiation and reaction with (-)-menthyl p-toluenesulfinate introduces a sulfoxide substituent ortho to the stereogenic Ar-CO axis of an aromatic amide. The sulfoxide exerts a powerful conformational bias on the axis, such that after rapid equilibration at ambient temperature essentially only one of two diastereoisomeric Ar-CO atropisomers is populated. Sulfoxide-lithium exchange by treatment with t-BuLi regenerates the ortholithiated amide in an enantiomerically pure and conformationally stable form. Rapid electrophilic trapping of the organolithium therefore generates highly enantiomerically enriched atropisomeric tertiary aromatic amides. The overall process, involving temporary substitution of lithium to sulfoxide to lithium, amounts to a dynamic resolution under thermodynamic control. Copyright © 2002 American Chemical Society.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)5266-5267
    Number of pages1
    JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
    Volume124
    Issue number19
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 15 May 2002

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Lithium-sulfoxide-lithium exchange for the asymmetric synthesis of atropisomers under thermodynamic control'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this