Organic Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Industry

A wide range of lithium products are used as versatile chemical tools for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, flavors, fragrances and other organic intermediates. Compounds containing a carbon-Li bond serve as strong, nucleophilic bases to generate carbanions by proton abstraction and lithium-halide exchange. The most commonly used reagents are butyllithium and hexyllithium which are available on a large industrial scale. Special organolithium compounds like methyllithium, phenyllithium and lithiumacetylide-ethylendiamine can be used for the introduction of the corresponding organic group. Organolithium amides like lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) or lithium-bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (LHMDS or LiNSi) are also strong bases, but in contrast to butyllithium, are non-nucleophilic. The classic reaction with these bases is the formation of an enolate. Beside organolithium compounds Chemetall also manufactures other organometallics which are useful tools for organic synthesis. We supply a broad variety of Grignard reagents for the introduction of the corresponding alkyl or aryl group as well as special sterically hindered alkali metal alkoxides. Lithium metal, dissolved in liquid ammonia, is a versatile reducing agent for the partial reduction of aromatics especially in the preparation of steroids and vitamins. Furthermore, Chemetall is a specialist in hydrides. Beside the strong reducing agent lithium aluminum hydride Chemetall provides numerous specific hydrides for special application. Lithium salts can also be useful for synthetic organic transformations. Lithium amide is used as a base for condensation and alkylation reactions, lithium bromide allows dehydrohalgenations and lithium hydroxide can be used for saponification reactions. Some lithium salts are active ingredients used in the pharmaceutical industry for the treatment of maniac depressive (Bipolar) diseases. The most important product of this category is lithium carbonate pharmaceutical grade.