Inventors:
James A. Schwindeman - Lincolnton NC
Douglas E. Sutton - Kings Mountain NC
Robert C. Morrison - Gastonia NC
Sonia S. Stryker - Charlotte NC
Assignee:
FMC Corporation - Philadelphia PA
International Classification:
C07F 102
Abstract:
An improved process for producing high purity solutions of aryllithium compounds comprising reacting a particulate alkali metal having a particle size in the range of 10 to 300 microns, with an aryl halide in a normally liquid etheral solvent of the formula ROR. sup. 1, wherein R and R. sup. 1 are selected from the group of alkyl radicals containing from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, in the presence of a Lewis base compound selected from compounds of the formula: R. sup. 2 AR. sup. 3 (R. sup. 4). sub. z and ##STR1## wherein A is selected from oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus or sulfur; R. sup. 2, R. sup. 3, and R. sup. 4 are selected from alkyl radicals containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R. sup. 5 and R. sup. 6 are independently selected from hydrogen or alkyl radicals containing one to six carbon atoms; y is an integer from 4 to 6; but when A is oxygen or sulfur, z is zero; and when A is nitrogen or phosphorus, z is one, and provided there is a mole ratio of ether to aryl halide of at least 1. 3 to 1 and a mole ratio of Lewis base to aryl halide of from 0. 01 to 0.