Synthesis and characterization of novel chelated dimethylamino lithium alkoxides: molecular structures of [1-LiOC(C6H11)(2)-2-NMe2C6H4](2) and [1-LiOCPh2CH2-2-NMe2C6H4](2)

From the reaction of 1-HOCPh2-2-NMe2C6H4 (1), 1-HOC(C6H11)(2)-2-NMe2C6H4 (2) and 1-HOCPh2CH2-2-NMe2C6H4 (3) with n-BuLi in diethyl ether, the solvent-free chelated dimethylamino lithium alkoxides [1-LiOCPh2-2-NMe2C6H4]2 (4), [1-LiOC(C6H11)(2)-2-NMe2C6H4](2) (5) and [1-LiOCPh2CH2-2-NMe2C6H4](2) (6) were obtained. The lithium alkoxides 4-6 were characterized by H-1, Li-7, and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. Crystal structure determinations of 5 and 6 were carried out. Compounds 5 and 6 are examples of structurally characterized solvent-free chelated dimethylamino lithium alkoxides and 6 is a rare example of this type containing a seven-membered ring. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.