Synthetically useful .beta.-lithioalkoxides from reductive lithiation of epoxides by aromatic radical anions

Epoxides are reductively cleaved by means of lithium 4,4'-di-tert-butylbiphenylide. Ethylene oxide itself cleaves to lithium 2-lithioethoxide in less than 5 min at −95 o C. Epoxides possessing one unsubstituted carbon atom reduce in a matter of minutes at −78°C