4,4′-Di-tert-butylbiphenyl-catalysed lithiation of chloromethyl ethyl ether: A barbier-type new and easy alternative to ethyl lithiomethyl ether

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)79191-X

The reaction of an equimolar amount of chloromethyl ethyl ether (1) and different carbonyl compounds (2) with an excess of lithium powder (1:7 molar ratio) in the presence of a catalytic amount of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (5 mol %) in THF at 0°C leads, after hydrolysis, to the corresponding hydroxyethers 3.