Hydrocarbon solvent solutions of complexes of N-butyllithium and ethyllithium

In a method of preparing liquid hydrocarbon solutions of complexes of n-butyllithium and ethyllithium in which the ratio of the n-butyllithium to the ethyllithium, on a mole basis, is from about 1:9 to about 9:1, the steps which comprise providing a stirred dispersion of finely divided lithium metal containing a small proportion of sodium metal in a liquid hydrocarbon selected from the group of aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons with which the lithium metal is essentially unreactive, gradually adding simultaneously to said lithium metal dispersion, under conditions of vigorous agitation and in an inert gas atmosphere, (a) n-butyl chloride or bromide and (b) ethyl chloride or bromide in a predetermined relative proportions to provide the aforesaid solutions containing the complexes in their above-stated mole ratios of the n-butyllithium and ethyllithium, and continuing the reaction at a temperature in the approximate range of about 20.degree. to about 35.degree., under conditions of stirring, until said reaction is at least substantially completed, and filtering to produce a solution of said complexes in said hydrocarbon solvent.

In a method of preparing liquid aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon solutions of complexes of n-butyllithium and ethyllithium in which the ratio of the n-butyllithium to the ethyllithium, on a mole basis, is from about 1:9 to about 9:1, the steps of which comprise providing a stirred dispersion of finely divided lithium metal containing a small proportion of sodium metal in a liquid with which the lithium metal is essentially unreactive, discontinuing the stirring and allowing the lithium metal to rise to the top of the mixture, separating out the unreactive liquid and replacing it with a liquid hydrocarbon solvent, gradually adding to said lithium metal dispersion, under conditions of vigorous agitation and in an inert gas atmosphere, a relatively homogeneous mixture of (a) n-butyl chloride or bromide, and (b) ethyl chloride or bromide in predetermined relative proportions to provide the aforesaid solutions containing the complexes in their above-stated mole ratios of the n-butyllithium and ethyllithium, and continuing the reaction at a temperature in the approximate range of about 20.degree. to about 35.degree., under conditions of stirring, until said reaction is at least substantially completed, filtering and washing the reaction muds with a liquid hydrocarbon solvent for said complexes to produce a final clear hydrocarbon solution of said complexes.

A composition comprising a clear solution in a liquid hydrocarbon solvent of a complex of n-butyllithium and ethyllithium in which the ratio, on a mole basis, of the n-butyllithium to the ethyllithium is in the range of about 1:9 to about 9:1.