Diastereoselectivity in the alkylation of 4-fluoroproline methyl esters

The reaction of alkylation of cis- and trans-4-fluoro-N-Boc-l-proline methyl esters has been examined by exposing their lithium enolates to a range of alkylating agents. The process showed a high degree of facial diastereoselectivity (except when methyl iodide was used as alkylating agent), invariably giving rise to products bearing the alkyl group in anti with respect to the fluorine atom. A tentative model to account for the observed stereoselectivity is also proposed.