Comparison of the X-ray crystal structures of the sodium and potassium 2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenoxides (RO – ) and 2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)benzenethiolates (RS – ); [Na(OR)(thf) ₂ ] ₂ , [K(OR)(thf) ₂ (µ-thf)] ₂ , [Na(SR)(thf) ₂ ·0.25thf] x and [K(SR)(thf)] x (thf = tetrahydrofuran)

[Na(OR)(thf)2]21, [K(OR)(thf)2(µ-thf)]22, [Na(SR)(thf)2·0.25thf]x3 and [K(SR)-(thf)]x4 were formed by the reaction of the appropriate combinations of 2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenol (ROH) or 2,4,6-tris(trifluorornethyl)benzenethiol (RSH) with NaH or KH; compounds 1-4 have been characterised by NMR spectrosccpy and single crystal X-ray structure analysis, both phenoxides being dimeric whereas two distinct polymeric structural types are observed for the thiolates.