Fig. 2: Mechanochemical generation of organolithium species.

a, Optimization study for the formation of organolithium reagents. Conditions: 1 (1.0 mmol), Li (2.2 mmol) and additive (2.2 mmol) in a stainless steel ball-milling jar (10 ml) with two stainless steel balls (10 mm). Gas-chromatography (GC) yields are shown. The photos show that lithium metal was completely pulverized under mechanochemical conditions, while some remains unreacted in the test tube reaction. aReactions were carried out in a test tube with a stirring bar. b, Deuterium-labelling experiment. Conditions: 1 (1.0 mmol), Li (2.2 mmol), Et2O (2.2 mmol) and D2O (5.0 mmol) in a stainless steel ball-milling jar (10 ml) with two stainless steel balls (10 mm). Integrated 1H NMR spectroscopic yields are shown. THF, tetrahydrofuran; MTBE, tert-butyl methyl ether; TMEDA, tetramethylenediamine.