Beryllium-centred C–H activation of benzene

Abstract

Reaction of BeCl₂ with the dilithium diamide, [{SiN^Dipp}Li₂] ({SiN^Dipp} = {CH₂SiMe₂NDipp}₂), provides the dimeric chloroberyllate, [{SiN^DippBeCl}Li]₂, en route to the 2-coordinate beryllium amide, [SiN^DippBe]. Lithium or sodium reduction of [SiN^DippBe] in benzene, provides the relevant organoberyllate products, [{SiN^DippBePh}M] (M = Li or Na), via the presumed intermediacy of transient Be(I) radicals.