Tandem carbolithiation/cyclization of 2-(3-phenyl-2-propen-1-yl) oxazolines, a novel route to cyclobutane derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)10298-2

Reaction of the 2-(3-phenyl-2-propen-1-yl) oxazolines 1 and 3 with organolithium reagents leads to cyclobutane ring formation by a novel tandem carbolithiation/cyclization sequence. The products (e.g., 2a and 4a) may be hydrolyzed to the corresponding substituted cyclobutanones (e.g., 7 and 8).