Reactions of 5-indolizyl lithium compounds with some bielectrophiles

Abstract

Indolizyl-5-lithium anions react with succinic and phtalic anhidrides giving 1,4-keto acids, with oxallyl chloride giving 1,2-diketone, and with ethyl pyruvate giving 1,2-hydroxyacid. However, with α-halocarbonyl compounds, they react in different ways, forming the products of selective bromination at C-5 (with α-bromo ketones and esters of α-bromo acids) and 5-chloroacetyl indolizines.