Solvent effects lithium enolates

The leaving group in the alkylating reagent has a major effect on whether C- or O-alkylation occurs. In the case of the lithium enolate of acetophenone, for example, C-alkylation is predominant with methyl iodide, but C- and O-alkylation occur to approximately equal extents with dimethyl sulfate. The C- versus O-alkylation ratio has also been studied for the potassium salt of ethyl acetoacetate as a function of both solvent and leaving group. ... 

Wen and Grutzner used, among other NMR parameters, the QSC of the lithium enolate of acetaldehyde to deduce that it exists as tetramers of different solvation in THF and THF/n-hexane solvent systems . However, the most thorough study of Li QSC and the most interesting in the present context was reported by Jackman and coworkers in 1987167 -pjjg effects on the QSC values of both aggregation and solvation in a number of organolithium systems was studied in this paper, i.e. different arylamides, phenolates, enolates, substituted phenyllithium complexes and lithium phenylacetylide. 

A comparison of the suitability of solvents for use in Srn 1 reactions was made in benzenoid systems46 and in heteroaromatic systems.47 The marked dependence of solvent effect on the nature of the aromatic substrate, the nucleophile, its counterion and the temperature at which the reaction is carried out, however, often make comparisons difficult. Bunnett and coworkers46 chose to study the reaction of iodoben-zene with potassium diethyl phosphite, sodium benzenethiolate, the potassium enolate of acetone, and lithium r-butylamide. From extensive data based on the reactions with K+ (EtO)2PO (an extremely reactive nucleophile in Srn 1 reactions and a relatively weak base) the solvents of choice (based on yields of diethyl phenylphosphonate, given in parentheses) were found to be liquid ammonia (96%), acetonitrile (94%), r-butyl alcohol (74%), DMSO (68%), DMF (63%), DME (56%) and DMA (53%). The powerful dipolar aprotic solvents HMPA (4%), sulfolane (20%) and NMP (10%) were found not to be suitable. A similar but more discriminating trend was found in reactions of iodobenzene with the other nucleophilic salts listed above.46 Nearly comparable suitability of liquid ammonia and DMSO have been found with other substrate/nucleophile combinations. For example, the reaction of p-iodotoluene with Ph2P (equation (14) gives 89% and 78% isolated yields (of the corresponding phosphine oxide) in liquid ammonia and DMSO respectively.4 ... 

Taking the solvation into account in such models is both very difficult and necessary for the best possible understanding of these exceedingly complex phenomena. The disolvation of the amides dimer (one solvent per lithium in THF, THF + HMPA or THF + DMPU)50 seems to be indicated, while trisolvated dimers appear relatively unstable. However, a very extensive semiempirical theoretical (MNDO) study on the various cyclic and open mixed aggregates formed by LDA and LiTMP with LiCl or three different enolates, solvated by discrete molecules of THF or HMPA, showed that general conclusions are almost impossible to draw48. A complex interplay of steric effects, induced by the partners of the aggregate and the solvent, seems to be the dominant influence on the relative stabilities of the species characterized. 

The solvent effect has long been recognized as an important factor in that it affects the lithium-oxygen bond polarization but also the electrophilic reagent380,398. The effect on aggregation was evaluated by measurement and comparison of the reactivities of monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric forms of LiPhIBP and LiPhAT or LiPhIBP in various ethers252. In the less polar solvent methyl-tert-butyl ether, lithium enolates are tetrameric and do not react with benzyl bromide. On the contrary, with added HMPA the dissociation of the tetrameric LiPhIBP is accompanied by solvation of each monomer by 1 -2... 

Fluorination of carbanions. These reagents selectively fluorinate a broad variety of carbanions in fair to good yield. Oxygen and nitrogen anions are not affected. The base can be NaH, KH, orn-BuLi, although lithium enolates are less reactive than potassium enolates. Nonpolar solvents are preferable to DMF, THF, or ether. Strongly basic anions can effect p-elimination of HF from 1 when R - CH,. Elimination is suppressed when R = neopentyl or norbomyl. 

Similar information is available for other bases. Lithium phenoxide (LiOPh) is a tetramer in THF. Lithium 3,5-dimethylphenoxide is a tetramer in ether, but addition of HMPA leads to dissociation to a monomer. Enolate anions are nucleophiles in reactions with alkyl halides (reaction 10-68), with aldehydes and ketones (reactions 16-34, 16-36) and with acid derivatives (reaction 16-85). Enolate anions are also bases, reacting with water, alcohols and other protic solvents, and even the carbonyl precursor to the enolate anion. Enolate anions exist as aggregates, and the effect of solvent on aggregation and reactivity of lithium enolate anions has been studied. The influence of alkyl substitution on the energetics of enolate anions has been studied. ... 

Typically, nonstabilized ylides are utilized for the synthesis of (Z)-alkenes. In 1986, Schlosser published a paper summarizing the factors that enhance (Z)-selectivity. Salt effects have historically been defined as the response to the presence of soluble lithium salts. Any soluble salt will compromise the (Z)-selectivity of the reaction, and typically this issue has been resolved by the use of sodium amide or sodium or potassium hexamethyldisilazane (NaHMDS or KHMDS) as the base. Solvent effects are also vital to the stereoselectivity. In general, ethereal solvents such as THF, diethyl ether, DME and t-butyl methyl ether are the solvents of choice." In cases where competitive enolate fomnation is problematic, toluene may be utilized. Protic solvents, such as alcohols, as well as DMSO, should be avoided in attempts to maximize (Z)-selectivity. Finally, the dropwise addition of the carbonyl to the ylide should be carried out at low temperature (-78 C). Recent applications of phosphonium ylides in natural product synthesis have been extensively reviewed by Maryanoff and Reitz. 

Under kinetic control the aldol reaction is very stereospecifie (Fig. 8.5). The lithium enolate is generated in an aprotic solvent, and then the carbonyl compound is added. The reaction proceeds via the metal-chelated minor path 6e. The minimization of steric effects in the chair transition state and the stereochemistry of the enolate (Section 9.3) determine the stereochemistry of the product. 

Screening the conditions for the enantioselective protonation of 2-substituted tetralon-l-eno-lates reveals striking effects as demonstrated by 14157b. The corresponding lithium enolate is complexed with (7 )-13 and then protonated with acetic acid. A drastic solvent effect is observed by which (S)-14 is formed with 6-91 % ee. However, this high enantioselectivity is completely lost if lithium bromide is omitted. 

One of the general features of the reactivity of enolate anions is the sensitivity of both the reaction rate and the ratio of C- versus O-alkylation to the degree of aggregation of the enolate. For example, addition of HMPA frequently increases the rate of enolate alkylation reactions. Use of dipolar aprotic solvents such as DMF and DMSO in place of the THF also leads to rate acceleration. These effects can be attributed, at least in part, to dissociation of the lithium enolate aggregates. Similar effects are observed when crown ethers or similar cation-complexing agents are added to reaction mixtures. 

Quantum mechanical calculations have recently led to the suggestion that in the presence of Lewis acidic BF3 the reductive elimination reactions of trialkyl-copper(III) species may proceed via the formation of a Lewis acid-[P-cuprio(III) enolate] complex. DFT calculations have been employed to probe the mechanism for the SN2-substitution reaction of methyl halides and epoxides with lithium organocuprates(I) operate, with solvent effects, BF3 effects and trans-diaxial epoxide opening taken into account. Calculations have lately been combined with mass spectrometric results to probe equilibrium isotope effects for the coordination of C2H4 and C2D4 to otherwise bare coinage metal cations. ... 

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