Transformation of (+)-thiomicamine into a new ligand for the enantioselective addition of methyllithium to prochiral imines

A new ligand 2 was prepared from (+)-thiomicamine 1 and o-methoxyphenol, and its activity as an external controller of stereochemistry in enantioselective additions of methyllithium to prochiral imines 8–10 tested. The non-racemic secondary amines 11–13 were prepared in 60–90% chemical yield with the enantioselectivity ranging from 2 to 41%. 6,7-Dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline 8 was transformed into (+)-salsolidine 11 with an e.e. of 41%.