Abstract
Di-tert-butylberyllium, (t-C4H9)2Be, and tert-butyllithium, (t-C4H9)Li, react in pentane to produce clear, colorless needlelike crystals of Li[Be(t-C4H9)3] in high yield. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study at-149 °C has established the trigonal-planar arrangement of the tert-butyl groups around beryllium. © 1988, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.