Abstract Lewis acid mediated α-alkylation of carbonyl compounds via silyl enol ethers is turning out to be a powerful synthetic method. For example, SN1 reactive alkylating agents such as tertiary and aryl activated secondary alkyl halides, which are known to undergo undesired HX-elimination with lithium enolates or enamines, react regiospecifically and chemoselectively with the less basic silyl enol ethers1. Related processes include ...
