Beryllium-centred C-H activation of benzene

Abstract

Reaction of BeCl2 with the dilithium diamide, [{SiNDipp}Li2] ({SiNDipp} = {CH2SiMe2NDipp}2), provides the dimeric chloroberyllate, [{SiNDippBeCl}Li]2, en route to the 2-coordinate beryllium amide, [SiNDippBe]. Lithium or sodium reduction of [SiNDippBe] in benzene, provides the relevant organoberyllate products, [{SiNDippBePh}M] (M = Li or Na), via the presumed intermediacy of transient Be(i) radicals.