The 'Gilman Reagent' Ph sub 2 CuLi and 'Higher-Order' Ph sub 3 CuLi sub 2: sup 13 C and sup 6 Li NMR in Dimethylsulfide

sup 13 C and sup 6 Li NMR studies prove that Ph sub 3 CuLi sub 2 is a viable 'higher order' organocuprate in dimethylsulfide; thus, no Ph sub 2 CuLi and only a trace of PhLi is present. Both Ph sub 3 CuLi sub 2 and Ph sub 2 CuLi are mixtures of clusters with varying degrees of aggregation at low temperature.