Synthesis and X-ray Crystal Structure Determination of Tetrahydrofuran Adducts of Two Terphenyllithium Compounds^†

The molecular structures of two terphenyllithium derivatives, namely dimeric [DppLi]2(THF) (1) and monomeric DnpLi(THF)2 (2) (Dpp = 2,6-diphenylphenyl; Dnp = 2,6-di(1-naphthyl)phenyl) are reported, which feature differently aggregated structures in the solid state. The main features of both molecular structures are the different coordination environments for the two lithium atoms in dimeric 1 and a trigonal-planar coordination geometry around the three-coordinate lithium atom in monomeric 2.