Room-temperature metallation of 2-substituted 1,3-dithiane derivatives and subsequent coupling with 2,3-disubstituted oxiranes

2-Substituted 1,3-dithiane derivatives, (S)-1-(t-butyldiphenylsiloxy)-2-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)propane (9), (S)-1-(t-butyldimethylsiloxy)-2-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)propane, 1-(t-butyldiphenylsiloxy)-2-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-2-methylpropane, and 1,2-bis(t-butyldiphenylsiloxy)-3-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)propane, were subjected to lithiation in THF with n-BuLi at room temperature (r.t.); the resulting anions reacted with 2,3-disubstituted oxirane, trans-2-methyl-3-(triphenylmethoxymethyl)oxirane (22), at r.t., giving the coupling products in satisfactory yield. On the other hand, the lithium salt formed in ether from (S)-2-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-1-(4-methoxybenzyloxy)propane with n-BuLi at r.t. reacted with 22 at r.t. in the presence of hexamethylphosphoric triamide to afford the coupling product in moderate yield. In addition, a mixed organometallic reagent, n-BuLi / Bu2Mg, was found to be an effective metallation reagent for 9 and the resulting anion reacted with 22 to afford the coupling product in good yield.