Synthetic Applications and Inversion Dynamics of Configurationally Stable 2‑Lithio-2-arylpyrrolidines and -piperidines

In diethyl ether, N-Boc-2-lithio-2-arylpiperidines have been found to be configurationally stable at −80 °C, whereas N-Boc-2-lithio-2-arylpyrrolidines are configurationally stable at −60 °C. Several tertiary benzylic carbanions derived from enantioenriched 2-aryl heterocycles have been successfully alkylated or acylated with little to no loss of enantiopurity. The scope of the reactions has been explored. The enantiomerization dynamics of N-Boc-2-lithio-2-phenylpyrrolidine and N-Boc-2-lithio-2-phenylpiperidine have been studied in the presence of different solvents and achiral ligands.