A theoretical investigation into the inversion barrier of dipole-stabilized alpha-aminoorganolithiums.

[reaction: see text] Results from density functional theory calculations (B3LYP/6-31+G) suggest that inversion of the monomer of 2-lithio-N-formylpyrrolidine (2) in coordinating ethereal solvent occurs with an activation barrier of 15.7 kcal/mol, while the inversion of the monomer in a noncoordinating hydrocarbon solvent is considerably slower. However, aggregation into a trimer in hydrocarbon solvent restores the low inversion barrier. This study suggests that solvation and aggregation may influence the mechanism and rate of racemization of dipole-stabilized alpha-aminoorganolithiums.