Microsolvation and sp(2)-stereoinversion of monomeric α-(2,6-di-tert-butylphenyl)vinyllithium as measured by NMR

The β-unsubstituted title compound dissolves in THF as a uniformly trisolvated monomer, whereas it forms exclusively disolvated monomers in tert-butyl methyl ether, Et(2)O, TMEDA, or toluene with TMEDA (1.4 equiv). This was established at low temperatures through the observation of separated NMR signals for free and lithium-coordinated ligands and/or through the patterns and magnitudes of (13)C,(6)Li NMR coupling constants. An aggregated form was observed only with Et(2)O (2 equiv) in toluene as the solvent. The olefinic geminal interproton coupling constants of the H(2)C= part can be used as a secondary criterion to differentiate between these differently solvated ground-states (3, 2, or <2 coordinated ligands per Li). Due to a kinetic trisolvation privilege of THF, the cis/trans sp(2)-stereoinversion rates could be measured through analyses of (1)H NMR line broadening and coalescence only in THF as the solvent: The pseudomonomolecular (because THF-catalyzed), ionic mechanism is initialized by a C–Li bond heterolysis with the transient immobilization of one additional THF ligand, followed by stereoinversion of the quasi-sp(2)-hybridized carbanionic center in cooperation with a “conducted tour” migration of Li(+)(THF)(4) along the α-aryl group within the solvent-separated ion pair.