Synthesis and structural characterisation of the mixed lithium–magnesium amide, [{PhCH 2 (Me 2 NCH 2 CH 2 )N} 4 Li 2 Mg]: a new type of magnesiate complex free of a donor solvent as ligand

A mixture of the alkyl(amido)magnesium compound, [PhCH2(Me2NCH2CH2)NMgBun], the secondary amine, [PhCH2(Me2NCH2CH2)NH], and the alkyl lithium, (BunLi), produces the lithium amidomagnesiate, [{PhCH2(Me2NCH2CH2)N}4Li2Mg] which is shown by an X-ray diffraction study to have intramolecular (tertiary amine) N–Li coordinations in the solid state.