Inter- and intramolecular enantioselective carbolithiation reactions

In this review we summarize recent developments in inter- and intramolecular enantioselective carbolithiation reactions carried out in the presence of a chiral ligand for lithium, such as (-)-sparteine, to promote facial selection on a C=C bond. This is an attractive approach for the construction of new carbon-carbon bonds in an asymmetric fashion, with the possibility of introducing further functionalization on the molecule by trapping the reactive organolithium intermediates with electrophiles.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (CTQ2009-07733) and Universidad del Pais Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UFI11/22, GIU 0946) for their financial support. Technical and personnel support provided by Servicios Generales de Investigacion SGIker (UPV/EHU, MICINN, GV/EJ, ERDF and ESF) is gratefully acknowledged. We also thank UPV/EHU for a postdoctoral grant (A.G)