Oxime ethers boron trifluoride activated

Much better results are achieved in the addition of butyllithium to oxime ethers 4a, 4b and 4c activated by boron trifluoride-diethyl ether complex (BF3 OEt2) at — 78 °C (above a reaction temperature of — 30 °C complex mixtures of products are obtained) using toluene as the solvent. Furthermore, the stereoselectivity depends on the E/Z ratio of the starting oxime ethers. The reaction appears to be highly stereoselective, with the diastereoselectivity of the... 

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