Probing solvent effects on mixed aggregates associating a chiral lithium amide and n-BuLi by NMR: from structure to reactivityElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: All monodimensional and bidimensional NMR spectra. See DOI: 10.1039/c4dt01156b

An NMR study of a 1 : 1 mixture of a chiral lithium amide ( 4a ) and n -BuLi shows that depending on the solvent employed (Et 2 O or THF) a mixed aggregate can form in proportions that are directly related to the ees measured during the enantioselective alkylation of o -tolualdehyde by these same species. NMR shows a direct correlation between the concentration of a chiral lithium amide/ n -BuLi complex and ees of a test reaction.