The relationship between the energies of carbanions, R – , and their lithiated counterparts, RLi. An ab initio study

While the methyl stabilisation energies of fifteen C1–C3 organolithium compounds, RLi, reflect (attentuation factor = 0·71) the methyl stabilisation energies of the corresponding anions, R–, deviations are found when the degree of charge localisation or delocalisation is changed significantly by association with lithium.