The first examples of an enantioselective [1,2] silicon rearrangement
are reported. This novel synthetic method lead to the formation of chi
ral alpha-substituted benzylamines with an alpha-silyl group. In the p
rocedure, N-Silyl-protected N-Boc benzylamines are subjected to enanti
oselective deprotonation using the chiral complex (-) sparteine.s-Buli
to generate chiral benzyllithium intermediates that undergo a [1,2] s
ilicon shift. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.