Self-decomposition of K−, K+(15-crown-5)2 tetrahydrofuran solution via organometallic intermediates

Self-decomposition of K−, K+(15-crown-5)2 tetrahydrofuran solution results in dipotassium tetraethylene glycoxide and ethylene as the main reaction products. Dipotassium triethylene glycoxide, potassium tetraethylene glycoxide vinyl ether, potassium butoxide and potassium ethoxide are found as secondary products of the reaction. Organometallic intermediate compounds formed in the studied process are very reactive and their life-times are short. The mechanism of decomposition reactions is proposed. The course of the process is found to be different from that presented earlier in the literature for the K−, K+(18-crown-6) system.