Abstract
Suspensions of alkali arsenides MAsH2 (M˭ Li, Na or K) in liquid ammonia have been prepared by dropwise addition of t-butyl alcohol (2 equiv.) to a mixture of dissolved metal (3 equiv.) and powdered arsenic. Subsequent reaction with an alkyl halide gave dialkyl arsines in good yields as main products in the cases of LiAsH2 and NaAsH2, and trialkyl arsines in excellent yields in the case of KAsH2.