Chemistry:(Trimethylsilyl)methyllithium

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(Trimethylsilyl)methyllithium
TmsLi.svg
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
EC Number
  • 629-440-7
Properties
C4H11LiSi
Molar mass 94.16 g·mol−1
Appearance white or colorless solid
Density 0.937 g/cm3
Hazards
GHS pictograms GHS02: FlammableGHS05: Corrosive
GHS Signal word Danger
H225, H314
P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P260, P264, P280, P301+330+331, P303+361+353, P304+340, P305+351+338, P310, P321, P363, P370+378, P403+235, P405, P501
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

(Trimethylsilyl)methyllithium is classified both as an organolithium compound and an organosilicon compound. It has the empirical formula LiCH2Si(CH3)3, often abbreviated LiCH2tms. It crystallizes as the hexagonal prismatic hexamer [LiCH2tms]6, akin to some polymorphs of methyllithium.[2] Many adducts have been characterized including the diethyl ether complexed cubane [Li43-CH2tms)4(Et2O)2][3] and [Li2(μ-CH2tms)2(tmeda)2].[4]

Preparation

(Trimethylsilyl)methyllithium, which is commercially available as a THF solution, is usually prepared by treatment of [(trimethylsilyl)methyl chloride with butyllithium:[5]

(CH3)3SiCH2Cl + BuLi → (CH3)3SiCH2Li + BuCl

Trimethylsilylmethyl magnesium chloride is often functionally equivalent to trimethylsilylmethyllithium. It is prepared by the Grignard reaction of trimethylsilylmethyl chloride.[6][7]

Use in methylenations

In one example of the Peterson olefination, (trimethylsilyl)methyllithium reacts with aldehydes and ketones to give the terminal alkene (R1 = Me, R2 & R3 = H):

The Peterson olefination

Metal derivatives

Structure of the organoscandium complex with two trimethylsilylmethyl ligands, (C5H5)Sc(CH2tms)2(thf) (tms = Si(CH3)3, thf = tetrahydrofuran).[8] Color scheme: O (red), Sc (blue), Si (orange).

Trimethylsilylmethyllithium is widely used in organotransition metal chemistry to affix trimethylsilylmethyl ligands. Such complexes are usually produced by salt metathesis involving metal chlorides. These compounds are often highly soluble in nonpolar organic solvents. These complexes enjoy stability because trimethylsilylmethyl ligands are bulky and they resist beta-hydride elimination. In these regards, trimethylsilylmethyl is akin to neopentyl.

Bis(trimethylsilylmethyl)magnesium is used as an alternative to (trimethylsilyl)methyllithium.[9]

Related compounds

  • bis(trimethylsilyl)methyllithium[10]
  • tris(trimethylsilyl)methyllithium[11]

References

  1. "(Trimethylsilyl)methyllithium" (in en). https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3482579#section=Safety-and-Hazards. 
  2. Tecle', Berhan; Maqsudur Rahman, A.F.M.; Oliver, John P. (1986). "X-ray Crystal Structure of Trimethylsilylmethyllithium". Journal of Organometallic Chemistry 317 (3): 267–275. doi:10.1016/0022-328X(86)80537-X. 
  3. Tatic, Tanja; Meindl, Kathrin; Henn, Julian; Pandey, Sushil Kumar; Stalke, Dietmar (2010). "The First Asymmetric Organolithium Tetramers with Simple Ether Donor Bases". Chemical Communications 46 (25): 4562–4564. doi:10.1039/c002504f. PMID 20502820. 
  4. Tatic, Tanja; Ott, Holger; Stalke, Dietmar (2008). "Deaggregation of Trimethylsilylmethyllithium". European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2008 (24): 3765–3768. doi:10.1002/ejic.200800610. 
  5. Age, David J.; Werth, Jacob (2019). "Trimethylsilylmethyllithium". Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rt321. ISBN 978-0471936237. 
  6. Brennan, David J.; Graaskamp, James M.; Dunn, Beverly S.; Allcock, Harry R. (2007). "Organosilicon Derivatives of Cyclic and High Polymeric Phosphazenes". Inorganic Syntheses. 25. pp. 60–68. doi:10.1002/9780470132562.ch15. ISBN 9780470132562. 
  7. Shioiri, Takayuki; Aoyama, Toyohik; Mori, Shigehiro (1990). "Trimethylsilyldiazomethane". Organic Syntheses 68: 1. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.068.0001. 
  8. Li, Xiaofang; Nishiura, Masayoshi; Hu, Lihong; Mori, Kyouichi; Hou, Zhaomin (2009). "Alternating and Random Copolymerization of Isoprene and Ethylene Catalyzed by Cationic Half-Sandwich Scandium Alkyls". Journal of the American Chemical Society 131 (38): 13870–13882. doi:10.1021/ja9056213. PMID 19728718. 
  9. Richard A. Andersen, Geoffrey Wilkinson (1979). "Bis[(Trimethylsilyl)Methyl] Magnesium". Inorganic Syntheses. 19. pp. 262–265. doi:10.1002/9780470132500.ch61. ISBN 9780470132500. 
  10. Jerry L. Atwood; Torgny Fjeldberg; Michael F. Lappert; N. Tuyet Luong-Thi; Riz Shakir; Andrew J. Thorne (1984). "Molecular structures of Bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl-lithium [(LiR), R = CH(SiMe3)2] in the Vapour (Gas-Phase Electron Diffraction: a Monomer, n= 1) and the Crystal (X-ray: a Polymer, n=∞)". Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications (17): 1163–1165. doi:10.1039/C39840001163. 
  11. Colin Eaborn; Peter B. Hitchcock; J. David Smith; Alice C. Sullivan (1983). "Crystal structure of the Tetrahydrofuran Adduct of Tris(trimethylsilyl)-Methyl-Lithium, [Li(thf)4][Li{C(SiMe3)3}2], an Ate Derivative of Lithium". Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications: 827–828. doi:10.1039/C39830000827.