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The monolithium derivatives of acetonitrile and phenylacetonitrile have been prepared and isolated. LiCH2CN is tetrameric while C6H5CH(Li)CN is dimeric in dimethyl sulfoxide. Both lithium compounds are not electron deficient; association occurs by the lithium of one molecule interacting with the cyanide of an adjacent molecule. The mercury and magnesium derivatives of these compounds are also reported.
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Das et al. (1972) studied this question.
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