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Updated: Apr 30, 2026

A Protocol for Safe Lithiation Reactions Using Organolithium Reagents
Published on: November 12, 2016
Highly catalytic asymmetric addition of deactivated alkyl grignard reagents to aldehydes
Chao-Shan Da1, Jun-Rui Wang, Xiao-Gang Yin
1Institute of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China. dachaoshan@lzu.edu.cn
Abstract:
Generally used and highly reactive RMgBr reagents were effectively deactivated by bis[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl] ether and then were employed in the highly enantioselective addition of Grignard reagents to aldehydes. The reaction was catalyzed by the complex of commercially available (S)-BINOL and Ti(O(i-)Pr)(4) under mild conditions. Compared with the other observed Grignard reagents, alkyl Grignard reagents showed higher enantioselectivity and they achieved >99% ee.
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