Abstract
Benzyl imidazole was successfully lithiated using n-BuLi at −78 °C and verified by deuterium incorporation. The chemical reaction of the lithiated benzimidazole was explored with a series of different electrophiles. This approach was utilized to synthesize new anti and syn diphenyl organocatalysts for trans-diol functionalization.
Graphical Abstract
Acknowledgments
Prof. Claudia Maier (OSU) and Jeff Morré (OSU) are acknowledged for mass spectra data. Drs. Ryne Johnston and Maduka Ogba are acknowledged for the early work on the computational analysis of the Tan chemistry.
Disclosure statement
No competing financial interests have been declared.