Organoboron compounds. Part X. The reaction of lithium with trialkyl borates
Abstract
Lithium reacts with boiling tributyl borate to form dilithium hexabutoxydiborate Li2[(BuO)3B·B(OBu)3], which loses tributyl borate on treatment with Lewis acids, giving the salts Li2[(BuO)3B·X] where X = BF3, B(OMe)3, or SiCl4. Dilithium hexabutoxydiborate is also prepared from tetrabutoxydiboron and lithium butoxide. Tripropyl borate reacts with lithium to form the analogous compound Li2[(PrO)3B·B(OPr)3].