Benzylpotassium is an organopotassium compound with the formula C₆H₅CH₂K. It is an orange powder. Like organo-alkali metal reagents in general, benzyl potassium is highly reactive, so much so that it reacts with most solvents. It is highly air sensitive.

Synthesis

One early synthesis proceeds by two-step transmetallation reaction via ''p''-tolylpotassium: :(CH₃C₆H₄)₂Hg + 2 K → 2 CH₃C₆H₄K + Hg :CH₃C₆H₄K → KCH₂C₆H₅ A modern synthesis involves the reaction of

butyllithium Butyllithium may refer to one of 5 isomeric organolithium reagents of which 3 are commonly used in chemical synthesis: * ''n''-Butyllithium, abbreviated BuLi or nBuLi * ''sec''-Butyllithium, abbreviated ''sec''-BuLi or sBuLi, has 2 stereoisomers, ...

, potassium ''tert''-butoxide, and

toluene Toluene (), also known as toluol (), is a substituted aromatic hydrocarbon. It is a colorless, water-insoluble liquid with the smell associated with paint thinners. It is a mono-substituted benzene derivative, consisting of a methyl group (CH3) ...

.{{cite journal , doi = 10.1016/0022-328X(87)80117-1, title = Lithium-potassium exchange in alkyllithium/potassium t-pentoxide systems, journal = Journal of Organometallic Chemistry, volume = 326, pages = 1, year = 1987, last1 = Lochmann, first1 = L, last2 = Trekoval, first2 = J Although

potassium hydride Potassium hydride, KH, is the inorganic compound of potassium and hydrogen. It is an alkali metal hydride. It is a white solid, although commercial samples appear gray. It is a powerful superbase that is useful in organic synthesis. It is sold ...

can also be used as a strong base for preparing potassium salts, benzyl potassium has the advantage of being molecular and hence more fast-acting.

References

Potassium compounds Benzyl compounds