A new type of structure in sodium amide ring chemistry: crystal structure of [PhCH2(Me)NNa(tmeda)]2 showing a buckled, rather than the normal planar, (NNa)2 cyclic ring, with a cisoid, rather than the normal transoid, arrangement of amido-substituents (tmeda = tetramethylethylenediamine)

Abstract

The red crystalline complex [PhCH₂(Me)NNa(tmeda)]₂, synthesised from equimolar proportions of PhNa, the secondary amine PhCH₂(Me)NH and the Lewis base tmeda (tetramethylethylenediamine, Me₂NCH₂CH₂NMe₂), has been structurally identified by X-ray diffraction studies, which reveals a new type of structure based on a buckled (NNa)₂ dimeric ring with a cisoid arrangement of amido-substituents.