Abstract Improved preparations of 2, 6-dimethylstyrene (5) and its α-bromo derivative (10) are described. The Br/Li exchange reaction of 10 provides single crystals of the title compounds 11 or 12, which were characterized as disolvated dimers by X-ray analyses. A similar dimer persists in diethyl ether, tert-butyl methyl ether, and toluene at all accessible temperatures, with significant lithiation NMR shifts (relative to 5) partially due to charge ...
