Metallation of weak hydrocarbon acids by potassium hydride–18-crown-6 polyether in tetrahydrofuran and the relative acidity of molecular hydrogen

Abstract

Potassium hydride in tetrahydrofuran in the presence of 18-crown-6 polyether is capable of metallating the hydrocarbons triphenylmethane, diphenylmethane, di-p-tolymethane (to completion), and di-2,4-xylyl-methane (partial completion); the results allow an estimate of the relative acidity of hydrogen with respect to the hydrocarbons studied.