Lithiation is a reaction in which a hydrogen atom in an organic compound molecule is substituted by metallic lithium to form an organolithium compound. Organolithium compounds are a relatively important class of chemical substances in the metal organic area. It plays an important role in the application of organic chemistry theory and organic synthesis. Organolithicum compounds have similar properties and application values as organomagnesium compounds (Grignard reagents) in organic synthesis, and in some aspects, they have stronger reactivity, higher yield, and easier separation of products. Therefore, Lithiation has a wide range of application values and important significance in organic synthesis.
Butyllithium reacts with hydrocarbons containing more active hydrogen atoms, and lithium atoms replace active hydrogen atoms to generate new organolithium compounds and n-butane. The advantages of this reaction include mild conditions, good solution chemistry, and low by-products.
An organolithium compound can be prepared by the addition of metallic lithium and olefin carbon-carbon double bonds. In particular, when the carbon-carbon double bond is conjugated with an aryl group or an unsaturated bond, addition is more likely to occur, and an organolithium compound is obtained.
This type of reaction has played a very important role in organic synthesis since the discovery of Wittig and Gilman. Through this type of reaction, certain organolithium reagents that are very useful in organic synthesis can be prepared. The halogenation reaction of organic heterocyclic compounds is relatively easy, and the heterocyclic organic lithium reagents are obtained through the exchange reaction of halogenated heterocyclic compounds, which are applied to the synthesis of heterocyclic derivatives.
With many years of experience in chemical process research and development, BOC Sciences has capabilities to assist you with development, piloting or manufacture of your lithium process.
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