Part C Lithium Dialkyl Cuprate Reagents

Like Grignards and ordinary lithium reagents, lithium dialkyl cuprate (LiR2Cu) reagents behave as if they are a salt consisting of an anionic carbon nucleophile (R ) and a positive counterion ([CuLiR] ). 

Synthetic Transformation 16.7 Lithium diaikyi cuprate reagent from an alkyl halide 

LiR2Cu reagents were developed as an alternative to existing organometallic reagents. They are softer and milder than ordinary lithium or Grignard reagents and work in situations where the others typically fail. 

Their development took place in the past 30 years, spearheaded by four still-active giants of organic chemistry E. J. Corey of Harvard, GaryH. Posner of Johns Hopkins, Herbert 0. House of Georgia Tech, and George M. Whitesides ofMH . 

Memorization Task 16.7 Lithium diaikyi cuprates react best with alkyl halide electrophiles. 

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