PREPARATION OF LITHIUM AND SODIUM COMPLEXES OF ,11-TETRAMETHYL-1,4,8,11-TETRAAZACYCLOTETRADECANE, ME(4)[14]ANEN(4)

The cyclic tetradentate tertiary amine, 8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetr aazacyclotetradecane (Me(4)[l4]aneN(4)) reacts with alkali metal salts in THF to form [M(Me,[l4]aneN,) (SCN)], M = Li, Na and [Li (Me(4)[14] aneN(4))(H2O)]X, X = Cl, Br. These compounds have been characterized b y elemental analysis, IR, Li-7, H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. The com plexes adopt a five-coordinate structure in which all four methyl grou ps of the macrocycle are magnetically equivalent. Frequency shifts in the IR spectra of the thiocyanato complexes indicate that the nitrogen end of the SCN- ligand is coordinated. A water molecule occupies the fifth coordination site in the complexes isolated as halide salts.