Organolithiums: Selectivity for Synthesis.

This volume, number 23 in the "Tetrahedron Organic Chemistry" series, presents organolithium chemistry from the perspective of a synthetic organic chemist, drawing from the synthetic literature to present a unified overview of how organolithiums can be used to make molecules. The development of methods for the regioselective synthesis of organolithiums has replaced their image of indiscriminate high reactivity with one of controllable and subtle selectivity. Organolithium chemistry has a central role in the selective construction of C-C bonds in both simple and complex molecules, and for example has arguably overtaken aromatic electrophilic substitution as the most powerful method for regioselective functionalisation of aromatic rings. The twin themes of reactivity and selectivity run through the book, which reviews the ways by which organolithiums may be formed and the ways in which they react. Topics include advances in directed metallation, reductive lithiation and organolithium cyclisation reactions, along with a discussion of organolithium stereochemistry and the role played by ligands such as (-)-sparteine.

The world is chiral. Most of the molecules in it are chiral, and asymmetric synthesis is an important means by which enantiopure chiral molecules may be obtained for study and sale. Using examples from the literature of asymmetric synthesis (more than 1300 references), the aim of this book is to present a detailed analysis of the factors that govern stereoselectivity in organic reactions. It is important to note that the references were each individually checked by the authors to verify relevance to the topics under discussion. The study of stereoselectivity has evolved from issues of diastereoselectivity, through auxiliary-based methods for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure compounds (diastereoselectivity followed by separation and auxiliary cleavage), to asymmetric catalysis. In the latter instance, enantiomers (not diastereomers) are the products, and highly selective reactions and modern purification techniques allow preparation - in a single step - of chiral substances in 99% ee for many reaction types. After an explanation of the basic physical-organic principles of stereoselectivity, the authors provide a detailed, annotated glossary of stereochemical terms. A chapter on "Analytical Methods" provides a critical overview of the most common methods for analysis of stereoisomers. The authors then follow the 'tried-and-true' format of grouping the material by reaction type. Thus, there are four chapters on carbon-carbon bond forming reactions (enolate alkylations, organometal additions to carbonyls, aldol and Michael reactions, and cycloadditions and rearrangements), one chapter on reductions and hydroborations (carbon-hydrogen bond forming reactions), and one on oxidations (carbon-oxygen and carbon-nitrogen bond forming reactions). Leading references are provided to natural product synthesis that have been accomplished using a given reaction as a key step. In addition to tables of examples that show high selectivity, a transition state analysis is presented to explain - to the current level of understanding - the stereoselectivity of each reaction. In one case (Cram's rule) the evolution of the current theory is detailed from its first tentative (1952) postulate to the current Felkin-Anh-Heathcock formalism. For other reactions, only the currently accepted rationale is presented. Examination of these rationales also exposes the weaknesses of current theories, in that they cannot always explain the experimental observations. These shortcomings provide a challenge for future mechanistic investigations.

Topics in Stereochemistry, previously edited by "the father of stereochemistry" Ernest L. Eliel, is a longstanding, successful series covering the most important advances in the field. The much-anticipated Volume 26 on stereochemical aspects of organolithium compounds includes chapters on the following topics: * Asymmetric Deprotonations Using Chiral Lithium Amide Bases * Self-Regeneration of Stereocenters (SRS) via Stereolabile Axially Chiral Intermediates * Overview of Carbanion Dynamics and Electrophilic Substitutions in Chiral Organolithium Compounds * Oxiranyllithiums as Chiral Synthons for Asymmetric Synthesis * Test on the Configurational Stability/Lability of Organolithium Compounds * Mechanism and Stereochemical Features in Asymmetric Deprotonation Using RLi/(-)-Sparteine Bases * Dynamic Resolutions of Chiral Organolithiums Volume 26 of Topics in Stereochemistry marks the end of an era, while developing a bridge to the next generation. A new generation in publishing, parallel to a new generation in Stereochemistry mandated a new venue and modus operandi for Topics. Zurich, the home of Werner and Wislicenus, has a unique heritage in Stereochemistry. Fortunately, the Wiley family's publishing partnerships include Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta, a house with a reputation for superior quality in publishing. Indeed, within the pages of its namesake periodical, Helvetica Chimica Acta, one finds many of the seminal research works of stereochemistry's giants. As such, a transfer of editorial operations to Zurich and a collaboration bringing Topics as a series closer to periodical status provides a growth platform for the future.

A reactions oriented course is a staple of most graduate organic programs, and synthesis is taught either as a part of that course or as a special topic. Ideally, the incoming student is an organic major, who has a good working knowledge of basic reactions, stereochemistry and conformational principles. In fact, however, many (often most) of the students in a first year graduate level organic course have deficiencies in their undergraduate work, are not organic majors and are not synthetically inclined. To save students much time catching up this text provides a reliable and readily available source for background material that will enable all graduate students to reach the same high level of proficiency in organic chemistry. Produced over many years with extensive feedback from students taking an organic chemistry course this book provides a reaction based approach. The first two chapters provide an introduction to functional groups; these are followed by chapters reviewing basic organic transformations (e.g. oxidation, reduction). The book then looks at carbon-carbon bond formation reactions and ways to 'disconnect' a bigger molecule into simpler building blocks. Most chapters include an extensive list of questions to test the reader's understanding. There is also a new chapter outlining full retrosynthetic analyses of complex molecules which highlights common problems made by scientists. The book is intended for graduate and postgraduate students, scientific researchers in chemistry - New publisher, new edition; extensively updated and corrected - Over 950 new references with more than 6100 references in total - Over 600 new reactions and figures replaced or updated - Over 300 new homework problems from the current literature to provide nearly 800 problems to test reader understanding of the key principles

This unique book covers fundamentals of organolithium compounds and gives a comprehensive overview of the latest synthetic advances and developments in the field. Part I covers computational and spectroscopic aspects as well as structure-reactivity relationships of organolithiums, whereas Part II deals with new lithium-based synthetic methodologies as well as novel synthetic applications of functionalized lithium compounds. A useful resource for newcomers and active researchers involved in organic synthesis, whether working in academia or industry!

Have you ever wished you could speed up your organic syntheses without losing control of the reaction? Flash Chemistry is a new concept which offers an integrated scheme for fast, controlled organic synthesis. It brings together the generation of highly reactive species and their reactions in Microsystems to enable highly controlled organic syntheses on a preparative scale in timescales of a few seconds or less. Flash Chemistry: Fast Organic Synthesis in microsystems is the first book to describe this exciting new technique, with chapters covering: an introduction to flash chemistry reaction dynamics: how fast is the act of chemical transformation, what is the rate of reaction, and what determines the selectivity of a reaction? examples of why flash chemistry is needed: the rapid construction of chemical libraries, rapid synthesis of radioactive PET probes, and on-demand rapid synthesis in industry the generation of highly reactive species through thermal, microwave, chemical, photochemical, and electrochemical activation microsystems: What are microsystems and how are they made? Why is size so important? What are the characteristic features of microsystems? conduction and control of extremely fast reactions using microsystems applications of flash chemistry in organic synthesis polymer synthesis based on flash chemistry industrial applications of flash chemistry Flash Chemistry: Fast Organic Synthesis in Microsystems is an essential introduction to anyone working in organic synthesis, process chemistry, chemical engineering and physical organic chemistry concerned with fundamental aspects of chemical reactions an d synthesis and the production of organic compounds.