Solution Stability of Organocalcium Compounds in Ethereal Media

Organocalcium compounds (post-Grignard reagents) of the type [Ca­(R)­(X)­(L)_n] are very reactive and able to degrade ethers with α- and β-deprotonation as possible first reaction step. In this systematic study, the durability of phenyl-, α-naphthyl-, and 1,2-dihydronaphth-4-ylcalcium derivatives in cyclic ethers such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), tetrahydropyran (THP), and α-methyltetrahydrofuran (Me-THF) is investigated. The temperature, solvent, and the nature of the second anionic ligand X [iodide, bis­(trimethylsilyl)­amide, α-naphthyl] significantly influence the durability of their ethereal solutions.