Synthesis and characterization of novel chelated dimethylamino lithium alkoxides: molecular structures of [1‐LiOC(C 6 H 11 ) 2 ‐2‐NMe 2 C 6 H 4 ] 2 and [1‐LiOCPh 2 CH 2 ‐2‐NMe 2 C 6 H 4 ] 2

From the reaction of 1‐HOCPh 2 ‐2‐NMe 2 C 6 H 4 ( 1 ), 1‐HOC(C 6 H 11 ) 2 ‐2‐NMe 2 C 6 H 4 ( 2 ) and 1‐HOCPh 2 CH 2 ‐2‐NMe 2 C 6 H 4 ( 3 ) with n ‐BuLi in diethyl ether, the solvent‐free chelated dimethylamino lithium alkoxides [1‐LiOCPh 2 ‐2‐NMe 2 C 6 H 4 ] 2 ( 4 ), [1‐LiOC(C 6 H 11 ) 2 ‐2‐NMe 2 C 6 H 4 ] 2 ( 5 ) and [1‐LiOCPh 2 CH 2 ‐2‐NMe 2 C 6 H 4 ] 2 ( 6 ) were obtained. The lithium alkoxides 4 – 6 were characterized by 1 H, 7 Li, and 13 C NMR spectroscopy. Crystal structure determinations of 5 and 6 were carried out. Compounds 5 and 6 are examples of structurally characterized solvent‐free chelated dimethylamino lithium alkoxides and 6 is a rare example of this type containing a seven‐membered ring. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.