9320696 Reich The focus of this research is to gain a mechanistic understanding of a number of important reactions and processes in organolithium chemistry. Because the chemical properties of organolithium reagents, perhaps more than any other class of organometallic compound, are dominated by inter- and intramolecular interactions with solvents and pendant groups, the spectroscopic and reactivity studies of solvation, chelation and stereochemistry together with product, selectivity and rate studies will give a better understanding of these phenomena. Since the experiments will be carried out under the conditions and in solvents in which they are used by synthetic chemists, the studies will allow better predictability of the chemical reactions of organolithium reagents and the expansion of the applications of them. Specific projects include coordinating cosolvents (principally HMPA) and the role of ion pair structure on reactivity, chelation effects, allenyl/propargyllithium reagents, preparation and mechanism of epimerization of stereochemically defined organolithium reagents, and the lithium metalloid exchange reaction. %%% With this award the Synthetic Organic Program is supporting the research of Dr. Hans J. Reich of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Professor Reich will focus his work on gaining a mechanistic understanding of a number of important reactions and processes in organolithium chemistry. Since many of these reagents play a central role in organic synthesis, especially for the very important carbon-carbon bond forming reactions, these studies will allow better predictability of the chemical reactions of organolithium reagents and an expansion of their applications. ***
