Aliphatic imines in titanium-mediated reductive cross-coupling: unique reactivity of Ti(O-i-Pr)4/n-BuLi.

A procedure for the coupling of aliphatic imines with allylic and allenic alkoxides is described. The success of these studies was enabled by a unique reactivity profile of Ti(IV) isopropoxide/n-BuLi compared to well-known Ti(IV) isopropoxide/RMgX systems.