UNEXPECTED STRUCTURE OF SSIUM-N,N,N',N'',N''-PENTAMETHYLDIETHYLENETRIAMINE - INFINITE, ZIGZAG CHAINS OF ALTERNATING CATIONS AND 2 DISTINCT TYPES OF ANION, ONE AZAALLYL BONDED, THE OTHER ALLYL BONDED

[{[PhC(H)- N - C(H)Ph]K--(+). pmdeta}(infinity)] adopts a novel crysta l structure exhibiting separate eta(3)-C - N - C and eta(3)-C - C - C ligating modes, surprisingly leaving one electronegative N centre not bonded to K+; reaction of the azaallyl K with its parent imine PhC(H)= NCH(2)Ph in toluene affords the interesting, metal-free, chiral produc t PhC(H)=NCH(Ph)CH(Ph)N(H)CH(2)Ph.