An Asymmetric Synthesis of Acyclic and Macrocyclic α-Alkyl Ketones. The Role of (E)- and (Z)-Lithioenamines

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00401a029

Metalation and alkylation of chiral imines derived from C10, C12, and C15 cyclic ketones gave, under kinetic metalation conditions, 2-alkylcycloalkanones of absolute configuration opposite to that formed from thermodynamic metalation.Thus, (S)-(-)-2-methylcyclododecanone is formed kinetically in 60percent ee, whereas (R)-(+)-methylcyclododecanone is reached in 80percent ee under thermodynamic conditions.In a similar fashion, acyclic ketones 20, via their chiral imines 17, are alkylated enantioselectively under both kinetic and thermodynamic modes.The kinetic metalation gives exclusively the (Z)-lithioenamines (19), while reflux of this lithio anion gives only the (E)-lithioenamine (19).Chiral α-substituted ketones are produced in 18-97percent ee.