Beryllium-centred C-H activation of benzene

Reaction of BeCl2 with the dilithium diamide, [{SiNDipp}Li-2] ({SiNDipp} = {CH(2)SiMe(2)NDipp}(2)), provides the dimeric chloroberyllate, [{(SiNBeCl)-Be-Dipp}Li](2), en route to the 2-coordinate beryllium amide, [(SiNBe)-Be-Dipp]. Lithium or sodium reduction of [(SiNBe)-Be-Dipp] in benzene, provides the relevant organoberyllate products, [{(SiNBePh)-Be-Dipp}M] (M = Li or Na), via the presumed intermediacy of transient Be(i) radicals.

Automated summary

Reaction of BeCl2 with dilithium diamide yields the dimeric chloroberyllate, leading to the formation of a 2-coordinate beryllium amide. Reduction of the beryllium amide using lithium or sodium in benzene produces relevant organoberyllate products, likely through transient Be(i) radicals.