title: A lithiomethyl trimethylammonium reagent as a methylene donor.
abstract: Straightforward deprotonation of soluble tetramethylammonium salts with alkyllithium reagents gives lithiomethyl trimethylammonium reagents. Coordination of the Li cation is crucial to the stability of these 'N-C ylides'. These reagents were used to prepare epoxides, aziridines and allylic alcohols.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 2, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland. peter.chen@org.chem.ethz.ch.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: den Hartog
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sarria Toro
authors.forename: Erik P A
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Couzijn
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen