Enantioselective nucleophilic addition of organometallic reagents to quinoline: regio-, stereo- and enantioselectivity

Some 2-alkyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline and some 2-aryl-1,2-dihydroquinoline were obtained by enantioselective addition of methyl-, butyl-, phenyl- and 1-naphthyllithium on quinoline. Bisoxazolines were used as external chiral ligands, giving enantiomeric excess up to 79%. The ligand could be used in catalytic amounts without significant loss of enantioselectivity.