Unusual structures of lithium terphenyl derivatives

The synthesis, spectroscopic and structural characterization of three new lithium derivatives of terphenyl ligands are reported. These are the mixed lithium alkyl–lithium aryl compound {Li(t-Bu)LiC6H3-2,6-Trip2} (1, Trip=C6H2-2,4,6-i-Pr3), the dilithiated {LiC6H3-2-(C6H3-2-Me-5-t-Bu)-6-(C6H3-2-CH2Li-5-t-Bu)·Et2O}2 (2), and the ether solvated (Et2O)LiC6H3-2,6-(C6H4-4-t-Bu)2 (3). The synthesis of the terphenyl halide precursors for 2 and 3 is also given. The compound 1 resulted from the treatment of 1-IC6H3-2,6-Trip with two equivalents of Li(t-Bu) in hexane. It features the alkyl and aryl (terphenyl) groups bridged by two lithium ions. The lithium ions are further solvated by ortho aryl substituents and methyls of the t-Bu groups. This compound is a very rare example of a mixed lithium alkyl–lithium aryl species. Compound 2 was obtained in low yield from the treatment of 1-BrC6H3-2,6-(C6H3-2-Me-5-t-Bu)2 with two equivalents of Li(t-Bu). The terphenyl ligand was dilithiated by replacement of the bromine and a hydrogen from one of the methyl groups on the ortho aryl substituents. The ether solvated, dimeric, tetrametallic structure illustrated in the Table of Contents resulted. The compound 3 was obtained from the straightforward lithiation of the iodoterphenyl precursor in the presence of diethyl ether and features a lithium ion solvated by two ethers terminally bound to the ipso-carbon of the terphenyl group.