Organolithiums are the prototypical nucleophilic reagent, but the direct use of them as nucleophiles in catalytic asymmetric synthesis has been problematic. Long sought after, conditions have now been identified that allow the highly enantioselective catalytic formation of C–C bonds by a direct SN2′ reaction of organolithiums with allylic halides.
- Manuel Pérez
- Martín Fañanás-Mastral
- Ben L. Feringa
