Room temperature reactions of n-butyllithium with either La2NiO4+y or
the electrochemically oxidized La2CuO4+x (x=0.04, 0.08) have been perf
ormed. Neutron and X-ray diffraction experiments and magnetic suscepti
bility measurements indicate that the process which takes place in the
se cases is the reduction of the material by extraction of the interst
itial oxygen rather than by the insertion of lithium within the struct
ure.