Enantioselective methylation of the lithium enolate of 1-tetralone mediated by chiral C2-symmetric DMEU derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(96)02372-6

Chiral C₂-symmetric DMEU derivatives were designed and synthesized as chiral ligands for lithium. The reaction of the lithium enolate (2) of 1-tetralone (1) with methyl iodide in toluene in the presence of a DMEU derivative (11) and hexamethyldisilazane gave (S)-2-methyl-1-tetralone ((S)-3) in up to 92% ee.