NMR study of the dynamic behaviour of the system 2-ethylhexylsodium-2-ethylhexyllithium in heptane

Mixtures of 2-ethylhexylsodium and 2-ethylhexyllithium are studied by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy in the temperature range from 20 to −50°C in hydrocarbon solutions. Characteristic temperature-dependent spectra obtained are indicative of dynamic exchange processes taking place in the system. The following activation parameters are found: ΔH^≠=31.7±2.7 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔG^≠₃₁₃=58.7±0.6 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS^≠=−86.37±10.8 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹. The negative value of the activation entropy indicates that the exchange proceeds through the associative mechanism. The participation in exchange reactions of aggregates, containing both sodium and lithium derivatives, is suggested.