Appearance orange solid | ||
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Benzyl potassium is an organopotassium compound with the formula C6H5CH2K. It is an orange solid that is so extremely basic that it is compatible only with hydrocarbon solvents.
Synthesis
One early synthesis proceeds by two-step transmetallation reaction via p-tolylpotassium:
(CH3C6H4)2Hg + 2 K → 2 CH3C6H4K + HgCH3C6H4K → KCH2C6H5A modern synthesis involves the reaction of butyllithium, potassium tert-butoxide, and toluene. Although potassium hydride can also be used as a strong base for preparing potassium salts, benzyl potassium has the advantage of being molecular and hence more fast-acting.
References
Benzyl potassium Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA