Synthesis and structures of lithium N-trimethylsilyl- and -neopentyl-anilides and their Et2O and tmen adducts; Crystal structures of [(Li{μ-N(Ph)R}-trans)2(μ-tmen)]∞ (R = SiMe3 1 or CH2But 2) and [Li{μ-N(Ph)CH2But}(OEt2)]2

Article abstract of DOI:10.1039/b009724l

The synthesis and structures of lithium N-trimethylsilyl- and -neopentyl-anilides and their Et₂O and tmen adducts were studied by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The treatment of N-trimethylsilyl- or -neopentyl-aniline successively with n-butyllithium and tmen in hexane yielded the crystalline polymeric lithium amides. The results showed that the reactivity of lithium amides was related to their degree of aggregation because the high polarity of the Li-N bond caused it to associate in the absence of a neutral donor.