Reactivity of lithium β‑ketocarboxylates: the role of lithium salts

Lithium beta-ketocarboxylates 1(COOLi), prepared by the reaction of lithium enolates 2(Li+) with carbon dioxide, readily decarboxylate in THF solution unless in the presence of lithium salts, in which case they are indefinitely stable at room temperature in inert atmosphere. The availability of stable THF solutions of lithium beta-ketocarboxylates 1(COOLi) in the absence of carbon dioxide allowed reactions to take place with nitrogen bases and alkyl halides 3 to give alpha-alkyl ketones 1(R) after acidic hydrolysis. The sequence thus represents the use of carbon dioxide as a removable directing group for the selective monoalkylation of lithium enolates 2(Li+). The roles of lithium salts in …