An efficient and highly diastereoselective one-pot preparation of an enantiopure scorpionate ligand by a nucleophilic 1,2-addition of an organolithium reagent to myrtenal is discussed. This compound is an excellent reagent for the introduction of this ligand into transition-metal complexes.
The work described here represents the first example in which anefficient and highly diastereoselective nucleophilic 1,2-addition ofan organolithium reagent has been performed on a carbonylicprostereogenic center to give an enantiopure scorpionate ligandin only one step.
