Alkali alkoxides, heteroleptic

Although metal alkoxides were successfully used as a synthon for the synthesis (see Scheme 9) of more interesting homo- and heteroleptic metal alkyls, they have not attained the same importance as their sterically hindered aryloxide analogues. This finding might be due to the general solubility of both the products [i.e., desired metal alkyls and alkali metal (generally lithium) alkoxides] in hydrocarbon solvents. This limitation has made a cleaner separation of the products more difficult. 

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