Inter- and intramolecular enantioselective carbolithiation reactions

Abstract

In this review we summarize recent developments in inter- and intramolecular enantioselective carbolithiation reactions carried out in the presence of a chiral ligand for lithium, such as (−)-sparteine, to promote facial selection on a C=C bond. This is an attractive approach for the construction of new carbon–carbon bonds in an asymmetric fashion, with the possibility of introducing further functionalization on the molecule by trapping the reactive organolithium intermediates with electrophiles.

Keywords

• alkenes
• asymmetric synthesis
• carbolithiation
• carbometallation
• enantioselectivity
• lithium