Monomeric lithium triazapentadienyl complexes

Treatment of 1,3,5-triazapentadienes [N{(C3F7)C(Mes)N}2]H and [N{(C3F7)C(Dipp)N}2]H (where Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2; Dipp = 2,6-Pr(i)2C6H3) with n-BuLi in hexane, followed by the crystallization from hexane-THF mixture afforded the corresponding lithium 1,3,5-triazapentadienyl complexes as their THF solvates. X-Ray crystallographic analyses revealed that [N{(C3F7)C(Mes)N}2]Li(THF)2 and [N{(C3F7)C(Dipp)N}2]Li(THF) are monomeric in the solid state. [N{(C3F7)C(Mes)N}2]Li(THF)2 has a four-coordinate lithium center with a distorted tetrahedral geometry, and features a boat-shaped C2N3Li metallacycle. [N{(C3F7)C(Dipp)N}2]Li(THF) has a three-coordinate lithium atom and a planar, U-shaped C2N3 ligand backbone. The synthesis, solid-state structure, and 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopic details of [N{(C3F7)C(Mes)N}2]H are also reported.