“…16d,21 It was found by Reich and Phillips 22 and others 23 that
tin–ate complexes form in quantities detectable by NMR spectroscopy
under special conditions, e.g., the presence of HMPA as additive in
THF, increasing the number of phenyl substituents at tin, and low
temperature (−80 °C). Furthermore, tributyltin compounds
are not favorable for the formation of ate complexes, which are substantially
less reactive 21 than lithium reagents. These facts induce us to think that tin–ate complexes play
only a minor role here, if at all, and that salt free species of heteroatom-substituted
methyllithiums are produced.…”