Benzyllithium: Preparation, Reactions and X-Ray Crystal Structure of Benzyllithium·2thf

Benzyllithium can be prepared in relatively high concentrations in mixtures of cyclic ethers via metalation of toluene with n-or sec-butyllithium. The solubility and stability increases markedly, in mixtures of cyclic ethers, overTHF alone. In THF/toluene, benzyllithium crystallizes out as a linear polymer with alternating C's and Li's making up the polymer backbone with each lithium solvated by 2 THF's.