Synthesis and structural characterisation of the mixed lithium–magnesium amide, [{PhCH2(Me2NCH2CH2)N}4Li2Mg]: a new type of magnesiate complex free of a donor solvent as ligand

Abstract

A mixture of the alkyl(amido)magnesium compound, [PhCH₂(Me₂NCH₂CH₂)NMgBuⁿ], the secondary amine, [PhCH₂(Me₂NCH₂CH₂)NH], and the alkyl lithium, (BuⁿLi), produces the lithium amidomagnesiate, [{PhCH₂(Me₂NCH₂CH₂)N}₄Li₂Mg] which is shown by an X-ray diffraction study to have intramolecular (tertiary amine) N–Li coordinations in the solid state.