[<i>t</i>BuLi⋅(−)‐Sparteine]: Molecular Structure of the First Monomeric Butyllithium Compound

Abstract

A chiral butyllithium reagent: Monomeric [tBuLi⋅(−)-sparteine] crystallizes from a solution in n-pentane on cooling. At the lithium center of the compound a formally free coordination site with a chiral environment is formed through angular distortion of the tert-butyl group (see structure).