(−)-Sparteine-Mediated Asymmetric Intramolecular Carbolithiation of Alkenes: Synthesis of Enantiopure Cyclopentanes with Three Consecutive Stereogenic Centers

Abstract

An asymmetric intramolecular carbolithiation reaction was developed by combining the (−)-sparteine-mediated enantiotopos-differentiating deprotonation and the anionic 5-exo-trig cyclization. Achiral 6-phenylhex-5-enyl carbamates were efficiently cyclized furnishing regio-, diastereo- (dr >99 : 1), and enantioselectively (er >98 : 2) 1,2-trans-substituted cyclopentanes. The intermediate primary benzylic lithium-carbanion pairs were – in spite of their configurative lability – diastereoselectively substituted by versatile electrophiles creating a third consecutive stereogenic center. Additionally, some 4-functionalized 6-phenylhex-5-enyl carbamates were also cyclized in high yield to provide enantiomerically pure cyclopentanes incorporating three adjacent stereogenic centers.