Conjugate addition of organolithium reagents to α,β- unsaturated carboxylic acids

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)01306-9

Conjugate addition of primary, secondary, tertiary alkyl and phenyl lithium reagents to 2-alkenoic acids affords good yields of branched saturated carboxylic acids. Substitution by methyl groups at the α-carbon strongly decreases reactivity, whereas deprotonation of the starting acid occurs almost exclusively with methyl substitution at the β-carbon of the 2- alkenoic acid.