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Updated: May 6, 2026

A Protocol for Safe Lithiation Reactions Using Organolithium Reagents
Published on: November 12, 2016
Safety Letter: Non-Pyrophoric tert-Butyllithium in Base Oils: Preparation by Mechanochemistry and Conventional
Kyle T Palka1, Jared C Pratt1, James P Morken1
1Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, United States.
None:
Alkylboronic esters are shown to undergo stereospecific transformations upon activation with nonpyrophoric solutions of tert-butyllithium in base oil solvents. Methods for the preparation of alkyllithium reagent from the direct mechanochemical reaction of tert-butyl chloride and lithium metal, in addition to conventional solvent-swapping strategies, are equally effective and enable a broad range of safe, selective, and efficient alkylboronic ester transformations.
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