Lithium anilide complexed by pmdeta: expectation of a simple monomer, but in reality an odd trinuclear composition combining three-, four- and five-coordinate lithium

Lithium structural chemistry continues to surprise as highlighted here by the reaction of BunLi, aniline and pmdeta, which by analogy with related systems, should yield a simple monomeric complex, when, in fact, an unprecedented trinuclear formulation is produced; in contrast, the corresponding Na system falls into line with predictions, in yielding a dimeric product.