1,5]-Anion relay via intramolecular proton transfer to generate 3,3-bis(silyl) allyloxy lithium: a useful scaffold for syn-addition to aldehydes and ketones

A [1,5]-anion relay has been achieved in 3,3-bis(silyl) benzyl enol ether. Deprotonation at the sterically more accessible benzyl position triggers an intramolecular proton transfer to generate the thermodynamically more stable 3,3-bis(silyl) allyloxy lithium. This endo-oriented allyl anion is stable at -78 °C and undergoes diastereoselective syn-addition at the γ-position with aldehydes and ketones to give monobenzyl-substituted 1,2-diols.