Organolithium reagents synthesis from alkyl halides

Use of the methylsulphinyl carbanion as base is recommended for the synthesis of ethers from alcohols and alkyl halides. The catalysed formation of dimethyl ether from hydrogen and carbon dioxide has been reported. Carey has described the use of the silicon-modified organolithium reagent (73) in the preparation of vinyl thioethers (Scheme 151). In order to extend the scope of this reaction to include vinyl ethers themselves, an attempt was made to metalate trimethylsilylmethyl ether use of n-buty 1-lithium resulted in nucleophilic attack on silicon, whereas t-butyl-lithium abstracted the wrong proton, as shown in Scheme 151. 

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