Tandem Intermolecular - Intramolecular Carbolithiation: A Versatile Method for Synthesis of Cyclopentanes

Polysubstituted cyclopentanes from readily available starting materials? A versatile anionic [3+2] approach is offered by the reaction of difunctional organolithium reagents 1 with alkenes 2 in a tandem intermolecular - intramolecular carbolithiation (see scheme). This convergent sequence is especially attractive as, not only are the precursors readily available, but the products provide valuable synthetic building blocks.