Working with tert-butyllithium. This one is a quite useful and well known chemical. It spontaneously ignites on air. tert-Butyllithium is a chemical compound with the formula (CH3)3CLi. As an organolithium compound, it has applications in organic synthesis since it is a strong base, capable of deprotonating many carbon acids, including benzene. tert-Butyllithium is available commercially as hydrocarbon solutions; it is not usually prepared in the laboratory.tert-Butyllithium is a pyrophoric substance, meaning that it easily catches fire on exposure to air. While it is possible to work with this compound using cannula transfer, traces of tert-butyllithium at the tip of the needle or cannula may catch fire and clog the cannula with lithium salts. Here we transferred it with a plastic syringe under N2 atmosphere. Serious laboratory accidents involving tert-butyllithium have occurred, so be careful with this compound!
9:31 pm  •  30 March 2020  •  259 notes  •  View comments