The first lithiated organic compound containing water as a ligand: synthesis and crystal structure of 2-mercaptobenzoxazolyl(tetramethylethylenediamine)lithium monohydrate, C6H4OC(S)NLi(tmeda)H2O, a model acid–base intermediate

Abstract

Lithiation of 2-mercaptobenzoxazole, [graphic omitted], in the presence of tmeda [Me₂N(CH₂)₂NMe₂] and H₂O produces the monomeric title complex, [graphic omitted]Li(tmeda)H₂O (1), the first lithiated organic compound containing water as a ligand; this complex exhibits strong hydrogen bonding between one proton of the co-ordinated H₂O and the S^δ– centre of the organic anion, and so provides the first structural model for the well known hydrolytic sensitivity of organolithium compounds in general.