Dynamic resolution of N-alkyl-2-lithiopyrrolidines with the chiral ligand (−)-sparteine

A selection of 2-lithiopyrrolidines with different N-alkyl-substituents were prepared and tested for their dynamic resolution in the presence of the chiral ligand (−)-sparteine. Good yields of the electrophile-quenched products were obtained with enantiomer ratios up to 85:15 using branched N-alkyl derivatives. The major product was shown to have the opposite absolute configuration compared with that obtained in the asymmetric deprotonation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine with (−)-sparteine. The enantioselectivity arises from a dynamic thermodynamic resolution in which the minor diastereomeric complex reacts faster with the electrophile.