Diastereoselective addition of anisoles to <i>N-tert</i>-butanesulfinyl imines <i>via</i> four-membered lithium cycles

Abstract

A highly regio- and diastereo-selective ortho-lithiation/addition of anisoles to N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines resulting in the selective formation of chiral α-branched amines is described. This method is also efficient for highly regioselective benzylic lithiation of o-methylanisoles, followed by diastereoselective addition to N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines.