Herein we report regioselective deprotonations of 3- and 4-(tetrahydropyran-2-yloxy)pyridine
with n-butyllithium. Trapping the lithiated species with various electrophiles afforded functionalized
pyridines in good yields. A one-pot procedure also allowed the double functionalization
at C4 and C2 in the case of 3-O-THP-pyridine. The ortho-metallating ability of this group was examined in comparison with other well-known
oxygen-based ortho-directing groups.
acetals - pyridines - metallations - lithium - organometallic reagents