Ethyllithium

Chemical properties

Ethyllithium, chemical formula C2H5Li. It is a colorless flaky crystal or colorless to yellowish solution. Melting point 95 ℃ (nitrogen atmosphere). Upon sublimation, the vapor consists of hexameric and tetrameric molecules. Soluble in pentane, hexane or heptane, soluble in benzene, and hexamer in solution. Decomposes with water. When heated, it is decomposed into ethylene, lithium hydride and a small amount of butane and butene. The commercial reagent is 1 mol/L benzene solution.

The Uses of Ethyllithium

Ethyllithium is a general organolithium reagent used in the nucleophilic addition reaction to synthesize a variety of intermediates.

The Uses of Ethyllithium

Grignard-type reactions.

Preparation

Ethyllithium can be synthesized by reacting bromoethane with metallic lithium in pentane.

Definition

ChEBI: Ethyllithium is an alkyllithium compound.

Hazard

Ignites in air, reacts with oxidizing materials.

Precautions

Ethyllithium solids are highly flammable when exposed to air. The solution is flammable and corrosive, and reacts violently with water. Stored at low temperature for one week, half of the reagents were converted to ethane, ethylene, and acetaldehyde.