First X-ray crystal structure and NMR spectroscopic analysis of a lithiated 1,2-diazapentadiene

Deprotonation of 1,2-diazapentadienes in Et2O leads to the respective lithium compounds which, in the case of [(η1-PhNLiNCHCMeCHPh)·Et2O]3, consists of an almost planar (Li–N)3 hexagon resulting in a tunnel-like arrangement of the W-shaped 1,2-diazapentadienyl chains; the X-ray structure, solution NMR spectra and reactions with electrophiles are reported.