Mixed dimer and mixed trimer complexes of nBuLi and a chiral lithium amide

Chemistry. 2001 Jan 19;7(2):337-41. doi: 10.1002/1521-3765(20010119)7:2<337::aid-chem337>3.0.co;2-i.

Abstract

Multinuclear and multidimensional NMR spectroscopy have shown that lithium (S)-N-isopropyl-O-methyl-valinol (1-[6Li]) exists in a mixed 2:1 complex with nBu[6Li], (1-[6Li])2/nBu[6Li], in non-coordinating solvents such as hexane or toluene. A 6Li,1H-HOESY NMR spectrum indicates that the complex is a cyclic trimer with a large distance between the di-coordinated lithium and the carbanion of nBu[6Li]. Such arrangements are present in the solid state as previously reported by Williard and Sun. The exchange of lithium atoms within the trimer is slow at -33 degrees C. The exchange barrier (deltaG++) was determined to be 14.7 kcal x mol(-1) from quantitative 6Li,6Li-EXSY spectra. Addition of diethyl ether results in the formation of mixed dimers of (1-[6Li])/nBu[6Li], tetramers of nBu[6Li], and homodimers (1-[6Li])2. The apparent equilibrium constant of the mixed dimer was determined from the 6Li NMR integrals as K = 7.