The reactions of optically pure menthyloxymethylphenylphosphine-borane with organolithium reagents.

The reactions of (Rp)-menthyloxymethyl-phenylphosphine-borane with several organolithium reagents are described. Less sterically hindered reagents such as m-anisyllithium and p-anisyllithium react with the phosphine-borane to afford the corresponding substitution products with high stereochemical integrity with inversion of configuration. On the other hand, o-substituted phenyllithiums lead to products possessing very low optical purities.