Configurational stability of chiral lithiated cyclopropylnitriles: A density functional study

Chiral, configurationally stable lithiated nitriles would be valuable intermediates for asymmetric carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. To gain insight into the design of such species, Walborsky's attempted enantioselective deprotonation/trapping reactions of a chiral cyclopropylnitrile were studied computationally up to the MP2(fc)/6-31+G* and B3LYP/6-31+G* levels. Investigation of cyclopropylnitrile/LiNH(2) deprotonation transition structures demonstrated a significant (20-23 kcal/mol) kinetic preference for N-lithiation, and a facile (4-6 kcal/mol barrier) "conducted tour" racemization pathway for the N-lithiated nitrile product. Addition of a model directing group (formyl) to the beta-carbon of the cyclopropyl ring is predicted to significantly favor C-lithiation over N-lithiation, both kinetically and thermodynamically. Thus, chiral beta-Lewis base substituted cyclopropylnitriles may serve as precursors to chiral, configurationally stable organolithium reagents.