On the Nature of the 7-Norbornadienyllithiums. Preliminary Communication

Lithium reductions of 7-chloronorbornadiene and of bis(7-norbornadienyl)mercury both provide (C₇H₇)₂Li₂ ( 5a ). This product is accompanied by C₇H₇Li₂Cl ( 5c ) in the first case, and by C₇H₇Li ( 5b ) in the second. The theoretically anticipated properties of all three organolithiums are apparent in the consistent C_s symmetry of their hydrocarbon ligands, their protolytic destruction by 12-crown-4, and their significant J(C(7), Li) ( 5a , 7.6; 5b , 16.0; 5c 8.9 Hz).