DTBB-Catalysed dilithiation of styrene and its methyl-derivatives: introduction of two electrophilic reagents

The reaction of styrene and some methyl-substituted styrenes 1 with lithium and a catalytic amount of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DTBB) in the presence of several electrophiles [Me3SiCl, Me2CO, Et2CO, (CH2)5CO, Pr2CO], in THF, at temperatures ranging from −78 to 0°C, gave, after hydrolysis, products 2 resulting from addition of lithium to the olefinic double bond and successive trapping with the electrophilic reagent. When a carbonyl compound was used as electrophile, mixtures of the monoaddition–reduction compounds 3 and 4 were obtained as by-products, which could be easily separated from the diaddition products 2.