Enantioselective addition of organolithium reagents on isoquinoline

1-methyl-1,2-dihydroisoquinoline and 1-butyl-1,2-dihydroisoquinoline were obtained by enantio selective addition of organolithium reagents on the isoquinoline. (-)-Sparteine was used as an external catalytic chiral ligand and an enantiomeric excess of 57% could be obtained. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.