Sixty years after Wittig: Gas-phase synthesis of lithium trimethyl-ammonium methylide, [(CH3)3NCH2Li]

Abstract

(Graph Presented) Very Wittig: Collisional activation of the lithiated betaine cation [(CH3)3NCH2CO 2Li]+ (m/z 124) in the gas phase results in decarboxylation to form the lithiated ylide [(CH3) 3NCH2Li]+ (m/z 80). Calculations and ion-molecule reactions with water confirm the identity and reactivity of this species. © 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.