Three model structural types in lithium amide chemistry: the crystal and molecular structures of dimeric [Ph(Me)NLi·TMEDA]2(TMEDA = Me2NCH2CH2NMe2) and monomeric Ph(naphthyl)NLi·PMDETA [PMDETA = MeN(CH2CH2NMe2)2], and of [Ph(naphthyl)NLi·TMEDA]2, a ‘loose dimer’

Abstract

The crystal structures of three amidolithium complexes are reported, those of [Ph(Me)NLi·TMEDA]₂(TMEDA = Me₂NCH₂CH₂NMe₂), (1), and Ph(naphthyl)NLi·PMDETA [PMDETA = MeN(CH₂CH₂NMe₂)₂], (2), whose Li atoms are all four-co-ordinate, confirming predicted structural types, while a new structural option is found for [Ph(naphthyl)NLi·TMEDA]_n, (3), whose monomeric (n= 1) moolecules, each containing a three-co-ordinate Li atom, are prompted to associate looselyin pairs (n= 2)via intermolecular Li ⋯ phenyl interactions.