Dynamic NMR and X-ray studies of chelated lithium phenolates. Tetramers with pentacoordinate lithium

Research was conducted to examine chelated lithium phenolates using NMR and X-ray spectrometry. Lithium phenolates with carbonyl functionalities in both the 2 and 6 positions enabled the metal to chelate to two oxygens. It was also observed through dynamic NMR that lithium has the ability to oscillate between the two chelating sites. Results indicate that lithium is static toward oscillation and that lithium phenolates form dimeric or tetrameric aggregates having a trigonal or a tetrahedral metal geometry.