A facile approach to C -functionalized β-ketoimine compounds via terminal alkylation of a tetralithiated intermediate.

A series of C -functionalized β-ketoimine compounds at the terminal methyl groups of the β-ketoimine precursor L ph H 2 (L ph = C 6 H 4 [NC(Me)CHC(Me)O] 2 ) were prepared. This convenient transformation was realized via straightforward double alkylation on the terminal C α of a novel bis-dianionic β-ketoiminate lithium complex [L ph' Li 4 (THF) 4 ] 2 (L ph' = C 6 H 4 [NC(Me)CHC(O)CH 2 ] 2 ) followed by hydrolysis.