Synthesis of chiral 1,2-diamines by asymmetric lithiation-substitution.

[reaction--see text] The imidazolidine (tetrahydroimidazole) 2, prepared in one step from N-iso-propylethylenediamine, was subjected to asymmetric lithiation and substitution using sec-butyllithium, (-)-sparteine and a range of electrophiles. Substituted imidazolidines were formed with high optical purity and could be hydrolyzed under acidic conditions to chiral, substituted ethylenediamines. Kinetic data indicate that the conformation of the carbonyl group is crucial to the extent of deprotonation, and this has implications for the lithiation of unsymmetrical carbamates and carboxylic amides.

Intramolecular carbolithiation reactions for the preparation of Azabicyclo

Tin-lithium exchange and intramolecular carbolithiation (anionic cyclization) have been used to construct the three nitrogen-positional isomers of the azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ring system. The 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ring system is accessed from either diastereomer of a 2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidine, via a chiral organolithium intermediate. The 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ring system is formed stereoselectively in low yield by a tandem cyclization, together with the product from monocyclization. Better yields of the 2-aza ring system can be obtained using an alternative approach from a 2-tributylstannyl-4-allylpyrrolidine, despite the trans arrangement of the tin (and, hence, lithium) atom and the allyl unit. The 1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ring system is accessed in just three steps from 4-piperidone.