Process for preparing methyllithium
Methyllithium is prepared by reacting chloromethane with a dispersion lithium metal in an aromatic organic solvent with methyltetrahydrofuran.
1. A methyllithium solution consisting essentially of
methyllithium;
an aromatic solvent;
and from greater than 2 and up to 4 equivalents of methyltetrahydrofuran per mole of methyllithium.
2. The methyllithium solution of claim 1 , wherein greater than 94 wt. % of methyllithium remains compared to the original amount of methyllithium in the solution after storage for 30 days at 40° C. as measured by 1 H NMR spectroscopy.
3. The methyllithium solution of claim 1 , comprising from 2.1 to 4 equivalents MeTHF.
4. A process for preparing methyllithium consisting essentially of preparing a mixture consisting essentially of lithium metal, methyltetrahydrofuran and an aromatic solvent, and adding chloromethane to react with the lithium, wherein greater than 2 and up to 4 equivalents of methyltetrahydrofuran are present per equivalent of MeLi produced by the reaction.