Lithium <i>ortho</i>‐Lithiobenzyl Alkoxides

Abstract

A new lithium reagent, lithium o-lithiobenzyl oxide (1), provides a facile entry to compounds of types (2) and (3). After transformation into an analogous reagent substituted benzyl alcohols react with benzaldehyde to give compounds of type (4). Products (2) to (4) cannot be synthesized from phthalic acid derivatives.