DISASSEMBLING LITHIUM AMIDE LADDER STRUCTURES - STRUCTURAL ELUCIDATION OF THE LITHIUM ANILIDE SOLVATE [(PHN(H)LI)6-CENTER-DOT-8THF], A MODEL INTERMEDIATE EN-ROUTE TO FORMING TETRA-SOLVATED RING DIMERS

Of widespread significance throughout lithium amide chemistry, the key step in dis-assembling ladder structures to give solvated dimeric rin gs appears to be insertion of solvent molecules into inner rung sites, as implied by the bridging THF ligands in the model intermediate [{Ph N(H)Li}(6) . 8THF].