What is Organolithium reagent?
'''Organolithium''' compounds contain a direct [[bond]] between a [[carbon]] atom and a [[lithium]] atom. They are an important class of [[Organometallic chemistry|organometallic]] compound. The bonding between the carbon and lithium is highly [[Polar bond|polar]] due to the difference in [[electronegativity]] between these atoms, which effectively makes the carbon negatively charged and capable of acting as a strong [[Base (chemistry)|base]] or [[nucleophile]]. These compounds are similar to [[Grignard reagents]], but are much more reactive. Organolithium reagents such as [[butyllithium]] are widely commercially available. Due to their highly reactive nature, they must be handled under a protective atmosphere such as [[nitrogen]] or [[argon]] as they will catch fire in air. {{chem-stub}} [[Category:Organic compounds]] [[Category:Lithium compounds]] [[Category:Organic chemistry]]