Tetralithiomethane, also known as tetralithium carbide, is an organolithium compound with the formula CLi4. It is an extremely pyrophoric red solid and is the lithium analog of methane.[2]
Deuterated methane CD4 can also be produced by reacting heavy water with tetralithiomethane.
CLi4 + 4 D2O → CD4 + 4 LiOD
When tetralithiomethane is heated to 225 °C, it decomposes to lithium carbide and lithium metal.[1][2]
Due to the known affinity of lithium ions Li+ for hydrogen moleculesH2 and therefore potential applications in hydrogen storage materials, tetralithiomethane has been studied computationally for its aggregation, H2 affinity, and binding to various graphene-type surfaces.[4]
References
^ abLawrence A. Shimp; John A. Morrison; John A. Gurak; John W. Chinn Jr.; Richard J. Lagow (1981). "Observations on the nature of polylithium organic compounds and their rearrangements". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 103 (19): 5951–5953. doi:10.1021/ja00409a074.
^C. Chung; R. J. Lagow (1972). "Reaction of lithium atoms at 800 °C with chlorocarbons; a new route to polylithium compounds". Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications (19): 1078–1079. doi:10.1039/C3972001078B.
^Er, Süleyman; de Wijs, Gilles A.; Brocks, Geert (2009). "Hydrogen Storage by Polylithiated Molecules and Nanostructures". J. Phys. Chem. C. 113 (20): 8997–9002. arXiv:0902.2339. doi:10.1021/jp901305h. S2CID17237753.
