Benzyl potassium
Appearance
Identifiers | |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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Properties | |
C7H7K | |
Appearance | orange solid |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Benzyl potassium is an organopotassium compound with the formula C6H5CH2K. It is an orange solid that is so extremely basic that it is compatible with few solvents. It was originally prepared by two-step reaction from p-tolyl sodium:[1]
- (CH3C6H4)2Hg + 2 Na → 2 CH3C6H4Na + Hg
- CH3C6H4Na → KCH2C6H5
The contemporary synthesis involves the reaction of butyllithium, potassium tert-butoxide, and toluene.[2]
References
- ^ Gilman, Henry; Pacevitz, Henry A.; Baine, Ogden "Benzylalkali compounds" Journal of the American Chemical Society 1940, vol. 62, pp. 1514-20.
- ^ Philip J. Bailey, Robert A. Coxall, Caroline M. Dick, Sylvie Fabre, Louise C. Henderson, Christian Herber, Stephen T. Liddle, Daniel Loroño-Gonzālez, Andrew Parkin, Simon Parsons "The First Structural Characterisation of a Group 2 Metal Alkylperoxide Complex: Comments on the Cleavage of Dioxygen by Magnesium Alkyl Complexes" Chemistry, European Journal 2003, vol. 9, pp. 4820 ± 4828. doi:10.1002/chem.200305053