The asymmetric synthesis of Escitalopram has been completed using a lithiation–borylation reaction as the key step. Suitably functionalized enantioenriched carbamate (er 98: 2) and boronic ester coupling partners were prepared and following deprotonation with s-BuLi and borylation, the tertiary alcohol was obtained in 42% yield and 93: 7 er. The lithiation– borylation reaction was found to tolerate nitrile, benzylic alcohol and N-Boc functionalities. ...