β-Substituted Organolithium Compounds. Reaction with Alkyl Halides, Dimethyl Disulfide, and Imines

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00347a037

The reaction of β-substituted organolithium derivatives with several electrophiles leads to mono- as well as bifunctionalized organic compounds.Thus, by treatment of these dianions with alkyl halides a direct attack on the carbanionic carbon atom is performed, giving as a result substituted amines.When dimethyl disulfide is used, β-amino and β-hydroxy thioethers are obtained.Finally, on reaction with imines, 1-amino-3-hydroxy compounds and 1,3-diamines are obtained.Since these dianions are easily preparated by mercury-lithium transmetalation from β-substituted organomercurials resulting from the addition of mercury(II) salts to olefins, this whole process gives an appropriate way of functionalizing olefins.