Preparation of Thioanisole Biscarbanion and C–H Lithiation/Annulation Reactions for the Access of Five-Membered Heterocycles

The synthesis, isolation, and X-ray structure of a thioanisole-based trilithium complex are reported. On the basis of the double-lithiation strategy, two novel synthetic methodologies have been developed under mild reaction conditions (room temperature): (1) reactions of lithiated thioanisoles with nitriles give benzoisothiazoles via a [3 + 2]-type of approach with two new bond formations and (2) formation of benzothiophenes from thioanisoles and amides through a [4 + 1] pattern forming 4 new chemical bonds.