Synthesis and novel structure of the first crystallographically characterised chiral α-amino lithium alkoxide

Lithium N,N,N′-trimethylethylenediamide, LiN(Me)(CH 2 ) 2 NMe 2 , reacts with o-anisaldehyde, o-MeOC 6 H 4 CHO, to afford a chiral α-amino lithium alkoxide 1, which in the solid state is a racemic tetramer with an ‘open’ pseudo-cubane core; the extent to which the N,N,N′-trimethylethylenediamido moieties internally solvate the Li centres varies with the chirality of the protected aldehyde groups.