Lithium in alumina: A new entry to solid state organolithium reagents

ORGN 280

Partha Nandi, nandipar@msu.edu1, James L. Dye, dye@signachem.com2, James E. Jackson, jackson@cem.msu.edu1, Philip Bentley1, and Michael Lefenfeld, michael@signachem.com2. (1) Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, (2) SiGNa Chemistry, 530 East 76th Street, Suite 9E, New York, NY 10021
Heat treatment of lithium with alumina gel (porous (-Al2O3) gives a black-colored reagent that contains both Li0 and Li+, as shown by MAS 7Li NMR. This highly reactive material (Li-AG) is capable of forming lithium alkyls such as n-BuLi, MeLi and allyllithium as well as lithium amides such as lithium dimethylamide and LiBMEA [bis(2-methoxyethyl)amide]. It thus offers a versatile and diverse method of preparation and delivery of organolithiums as solid state reagents that provides an alternative to their traditional use in solvents. In addition, Li-AG can be stored under an inert gas (not N2) and used to prepare and react desired lithium alkyls or lithium amides at the point of use.

 

New Reactions and Methodology
1:00 PM-4:40 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 McCormick Place East -- Room E351, Level 3, Oral

Division of Organic Chemistry

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007