Highly diastereoselective conjugate additions of monoorganocopper reagents to chiral imides

Stereoselective conjugate additions to chiral N-enoyl amides employing various monoorganocuprate reagents, Li[RCuI], are described. The presence of TMSI in the addition of Li[RCuI] in THF provided the highest stereoselectivities. Reversed major diastereomeric ratios were obtained employing Li[RCuI] in ether or conventional copper-promoted Grignard reagents. The results presented support the favored anti-s-cis conformation of the substrates using Li[RCuI]/TMSI in THF, while the copper-promoted Grignard reagents or the Li[RCuI] reagents in ether favor the opposite syn-s-cis conformation. Influence of lithium ions on the stereoselective conjugate addition of the monoorganocuprate reagent, Li[BuCuI], has been investigated and two different mechanistic pathways are presented. The results show that iodotrimethylsilane (TMSI) is crucial for the asymmetric conjugate addition of the copper reagent, but only in THF or when 12-crown-4 is used. The reaction is thought not to involve any halosilane in any critical steps in the organocopper mechanisms conducted in ether. The (CuI)(4)(SMe2)(3) complex precursor plays an instrumental role for the conjugate addition using monoorganocopper reagents. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.