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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

A Protocol for Safe Lithiation Reactions Using Organolithium Reagents
Published on: November 12, 2016
Functionalization of hydride-terminated photoluminescent silicon nanocrystals with organolithium reagents
Ignaz M D Höhlein1, Arzu Angı, Regina Sinelnikov
1Wacker-Lehrstuhl für Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85747 Garching (Germany).
Abstract:
Hydride-terminated photoluminescent silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) were functionalized with organolithium compounds. The reaction is proposed to proceed through cleavage of Si - Si bonds and formation of a Si - Li surface species. The method yields colloidally stabilized SiNCs at room temperature with short reaction times. SiNCs with mixed surface functionalities can be prepared in an easy two-step reaction by this method by quenching of the Si - Li group with electrophiles or by addressing free Si - H groups on the surface with a hydrosilylation reaction.
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