Beryllium-centred C-H activation of benzene.

Reaction of BeCl 2 with the dilithium diamide, [{SiN Dipp }Li 2 ] ({SiN Dipp } = {CH 2 SiMe 2 NDipp} 2 ), provides the dimeric chloroberyllate, [{SiN Dipp BeCl}Li] 2 , en route to the 2-coordinate beryllium amide, [SiN Dipp Be]. Lithium or sodium reduction of [SiN Dipp Be] in benzene, provides the relevant organoberyllate products, [{SiN Dipp BePh}M] (M = Li or Na), via the presumed intermediacy of transient Be(I) radicals.