Halogen- and N-haloimide-promoted homo- and heterocoupling of alpha-(N-carbamoyl)alkylcuprates and alpha-(alkoxy)alkylcuprates.

Both homo- and mixed lithium di-alpha-(heteroatom)alkylcuprates readily dimerize upon addition of halogens (e.g., I(2), Br(2)) or N-halosuccinimides to afford the coupled products in excellent yields. Higher yields result when the requisite alpha-(heteroatom)alkyllithium reagents are generated via deprotonation rather than by transmetalation of the corresponding stannanes. Mixed lithium dialkyl- or alkyl(aryl)cuprate reagents containing one alpha-(heteroatom)alkyl ligand and one simple alkyl or aryl ligand give significantly lower yields of coupled product. Low enantioselectivity has been achieved in the oxidative coupling of lithium (n-Bu)(2-pyrrolidinyl)cuprate.