Functionalized Organolithium Compounds by DTBB-Catalyzed Sulfur-Lithium Exchange

Abstract

The successive reaction of β- or γ-hydroxy or amino phenyl thioethers (1, 4) with butyllithium and an excess of lithium powder in the presence of a catalytic amount of DTBB in THF at - 78 °C leads to the formation of the corresponding β-γ-functionalized organolithium compounds 2 or 5, respectively, which by treatment with different electrophiles [D2O, t-BuCHO, PhCHO, Me2CO, (CH2)4CO, (CH2)5CO] at temperatures ranging between - 78 °C and room temperature yields, after hydrolysis with water, the expected functionalized alcohols or amines 3 or 6, respectively, in a completely regioselective manner.