A Li8 cluster of three edge-connected Li4 tetrahedra held by Li–N, Li ⋯ C, and Li ⋯ Li interactions: crystal structure of (o-LiC6H4CH2·NLi·CH2CH2NMe2)4 and detection of metal ⋯ metal coupling within it by 7Li COSY n.m.r. spectroscopy

Abstract

The compound (o-LiC₆H₄CH₂·NLi·CH₂CH₂NMe₂)_n(1) is tetrameric (n= 4) in the crystal, with a core of three edge-connected Li₄ tetrahedra bonded by ∼N(Me₂)Li, µ-N-amido-Li, o-C–Li, η²-o-C–m-CH–Li, and η³-CH₂–α-C–o-C–Li interactions; in addition, the Li₈ array displays some extremely short Li ⋯ Li contact distances and coupling of Li atoms in solutions of (1) has been detected by homonuclear ⁷Li COSY n.m.r. spectroscopy.