Phosphinamide-directed benzylic lithiation. Application to the synthesis of peptide building blocks.

N-benzyldiphenylphosphinamides are deprotonated at the NCalpha position diastereospecifically upon treatment with t-BuLi in diethyl ether at low temperature. The reaction of the anions with alkyl, acyl, and tin halides, aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes, and Michael acceptors allowed installation of a variety of functional groups into the benzylic arm in excellent yields. Cleavage of the P-N linkage affords 1,2-amino alcohols and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-amino acids.