Crystal Structures of [PhLi·(−)-sparteine]2, [PhOLi·(−)-sparteine]2, and the Mixed Aggregate [PhLi·PhOLi·2(−)-sparteine]

Crystal structure determination of adducts of (−)-sparteine and PhLi, (−)-sparteine and PhOLi and of (−)-sparteine and PhLi/PhOLi reveal a four-membered ring with two lithium centers, each capped by a (−)-sparteine ligand, as central motif of all structure. Quantum-chemical calculations show that the mixed aggregate [PhLi·PhOLi·2(−)-sparteine] is energetically more favorable than the model system { 1 / 2 [PhLi·(−)-sparteine] 2 + 1 / 2 [PhOLi·(−)-sparteine] 2 }.