THF-solvated heavy alkali metal benzyl compounds (Na, Rb, Cs): defined deprotonation reagents for alkali metal mediation chemistry

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Abstract

The incorporation of heavy alkali metals into substrates is both challenging and essential for many reactions. Here, we report the formation of THF-solvated alkali metal benzyl compounds [PhCH2M ⋅ (thf)n] (M=Na, Rb, Cs). The synthesis was carried out by deprotonation of toluene with the bimetallic mixture n-butyllithium/alkali metal tert-butoxide and selective crystallization from THF of the defined benzyl compounds. Insights into the molecular structure in the solid as well as in solution state are gained by single crystal X-ray experiments and NMR spectroscopic studies. The compounds could be successfully used as alkali metal mediating reagents. The example of caesium showed the convenient use by deprotonating acidic C−H as well as N−H compounds to gain insight into the aminometalation using these reagents.

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Keywords

Alkali metals, Carbanions, Hydroamination, Main group elements, Organometallic chemistry

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