Efficient ortho-lithiation of arenes in hydrocarbon media utilizing “deficiency catalysis”

ORGN 594

D. W. Slocum, donald.slocum@wku.edu, Troy Reece, Christopher B. White, christopher.white@wku.edu, Becca M. Sandlin, beccam1187@yahoo.com, Karen Lalonde, Jared Bolton, Sam Warnell, Stefanie A. Bragg, and Paul E. Whitley, paul.whitley@wku.edu. Department of Chemistry, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, KY 42101
Previous studies in our laboratories have championed the use of equivalents of THF [anisole (A), p-methylanisole (p-MA) and p-chloroanisole (p-ClA)] and fractional equivalents of TMEDA [A and dimethylaniline (DMA)] for atom-economical preparation of the respective ortho-lithiated intermediates. These studies alone have demonstrated that there is not a single catalyzed-hydrocarbon-solution-fits-all system for these efficient metalations. Extending the application of these “deficiently catalyzed” hydrocarbon media to other arene substrates has prompted further modification. For the three dimethoxybenzenes, a system of 1.0 equivalent of THF, 0.1 equiv. of TMEDA in cyclohexane has afforded ca. 90% yield of each of the appropriate ortho-lithio intermediates. The p-haloanisoles presented a more difficult series to undertake. Although 1.0 equiv. THF in cyclohexane proved efficient for the ortho-lithiation of p-ClA, the same medium with n-BuLi provided halogen/lithium exchange for p-BrA and p-IA. For p-FA this medium generated the benzyne intermediate. A relatively clean inefficient metalation of p-FA ortho to the methoxy group can be attained by use of hydrocarbon media alone. ortho-Lithiation of p-BrA and p-IA has been accomplished in high yields utilizing a new metalation procedure which involves the use of o-LiDMA as the metalating agent. Hydrocarbon media, selectively catalyzed, promise greener, less hazardous systems for efficient application of organolithium reagents.