n-Butyl lithium is hexameric in the solid state[1] and in cyclohexane solutions. Why? Here I try to find out some of its secrets.
References
- T. Kottke, and D. Stalke, "Structures of Classical Reagents in Chemical Synthesis: ( <i>n</i> BuLi) <sub>6</sub> , ( <i>t</i> BuLi) <sub>4</sub> , and the Metastable ( <i>t</i> BuLi · Et <sub>2</sub> O) <sub>2</sub>", Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English, vol. 32, pp. 580-582, 1993. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.199305801