Abstract:
The reaction between potassium derivative {[(4-ButC6H4)2CH]−K+}n and alkyl iodides gives new 1,1-bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)alkanes which can be deprotonated with BunNa to produce species [(4-ButC6H4)2CR]−Na+ (R=Me, Bui). The salt metathesis of the latter with base-free CaI2 or YbI2 affords novel bis(hydrocarbyl) complexes [(4-ButC6H4)2CR]2M(TMEDA) (M=Ca, R=Me; M=Yb, R=Bui). The hyperconjugation of the central carbanion with alkyl groups pronouncedly enhances the basic properties of the compounds which would perform CH bond activation in toluene and thiophene, in distinction to the related ‘nonalkylated’ analogues with (4-ButC6H4)2CH− ligand.