Trapping of n-butyllithium dimer by a trilithiated derivative of {Al[N(H)But]3}2

The reaction of {Al[N(H)But]3}2, obtained as a 1 : 2 mixture of cis and trans isomers from the addition of AlCl3 to three equiv. LiN(H)But in diethyl ether, with LiBun generates a complex in which a dimeric n-butyllithium fragment is trapped by the trilithiated derivative Li3Al2[N(H)But]3[NBut]3.