Preparation of lithium stannide mixtures in organic solvents. A alternate source of lithium in organolithium chemistry

Lithium stannides were prepared from lithium naphthalenide and tin (II) chloride or tin (0) powder in THF solvent at room temperature under dry argon atmosphere. They were characterized with elemental analysis, XRD, and solid 6,7Li NMR. Stabilities and reactivities of lithium stannides prepared from different conditions were tested and showed they were stable for a limited time at low temperatures. Best reactivity was obtained when they were prepared from tin (II) chloride and an excess of lithium naphthalenide. The lithium stannide mixture can reductively cleave carbon–halogen bonds and yield pinacol coupling with aldehydes. Organolithium compounds prepared from lithium stannides and organic halides add to ketones or aldehydes under Barbier conditions.