Synthesis and structure of a bis‐ortho‐chelated aryllithium compound: 2,3,5,6‐tetrakis[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenyllithium dimer

The reaction of 1,2,4,5‐(Me2NCH2)4C6H2 with one equivalent of n‐butyllithium affords Li2[C6H(CH2NMe2)4‐2,3,5,6]2 (1). The molecule consists of a dimeric unit containing three‐centre, two‐electron lithium‐bonded aryl groups. The distorted tetrahedral coordination sphere of the lithium atoms is completed by two N‐coordinating ortho‐CH2NMe2 substituents. Complex 1 is the first dimeric aryllithium compound characterized in which the coordination around lithium is completed solely by intramolecular donating hetero atoms.