Dilithiation of Two Diphenyl Ethers Each Containing Two NHCH₂CH₂Y (Y = OMe, NMe₂) Side Arms in ortho Positions: Assembly of “Adamantanoid” Li₄O₂N₄ Cores

No N2Li2 units are formed on dilithiation of the RNH-substituted ethers 1 and 2. Instead, the dimerization of two monomers leads to adamantanoid structures with Li4O2N4 frameworks and CH2CH2OMe and CH2CH2NMe2 side arms that are crucial for dimer formation. The adamantanoid structure of the Li2 compound prepared from 1 also persists in solution.