Chiral Organometallic Reagents, VII. On the Configurational Stability of α‐Methylbenzyllithium

Abstract

Abstract α‐Methylbenzyllithium ( 6 ) should possess either central or planar chirality. The rate of enantiomerization of 6 at — 78 ° C was found to be faster than its addition to the amide 7 , the ketone 8 , or to the aldehyde 10 , according to a test based on kinetic resolution. The benzyllithium compound 6 thus behaves in THF essentially as a prochiral entity.