Patent ID: 7005083
Filing Date: 2006-02-28
Classification: C07F

Abstract:
1. A process for producing alkyllithium compounds in high yields of at least about 90% and high purity by reacting under reflux conditions in a liquid hydrocarbon solvent which refluxes at temperatures between about 50° C. and 125° C., such solvent being selected from liquid saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms, saturated liquid cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms and liquid aromatic hydrocarbons containing 6 to 12 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof, an alkyl halide containing 3 to 16 carbon atoms with metal particles of less than about 300 microns in size, and subsequently recovering the alkyllithium compound, in which the improvement consists of conducting the reaction using metal particles of a lithium-sodium alloy which comprises at least about 15 percent by weight of sodium.