Benzylpotassium is an organopotassium compound with the formula C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>5</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>K, an orange powder. Like organo-alkali metal reagents in general, benzyl potassium is highly reactive, so much so that it reacts with most solvents. It is highly air sensitive.
One early synthesis proceeds by two-step transmetallation reaction by p-tolylpotassium:
A modern synthesis involves the reaction of butyllithium, potassium tert-butoxide, and toluene.
The structure of the related diphenylmethane derivative has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography.