Abstract N-Arylarylideneamines react with sulfinylbenzyl carbanions derived from 2-(p- tolylsulfinyl) toluenes (S)-1 and (S)-2, affording epimeric mixtures at C1 of 1, 2-diarylethyl- and 1, 2-diarylpropylamine derivatives. The sulfinyl group completely controls the configuration at C2 in the reactions of (S)-2. The configuration at C1 depends on the electron density of the ring adjacent to the iminic carbon atom which is modulated by π–π stacking ...
