INHIBITION OF THE CYCLOTRIMERIZATION OF BENZONITRILE AND THE LIKELY MECHANISM OF THE CYCLOTRIMERIZATION PROCESS - STRUCTURE OF A NEW TETRAMERIC ALPHA-AMINO LITHIUM IMIDE DEMONSTRATING INTRAMOLECULAR STABILIZATION OF THE METAL CENTERS

Reaction of ((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)methylamino)lithium (4) with benz onitrile gives a new alpha-amino lithium imide, 5, which in the solid state is a tetrameric cubane. Aggregation is accompanied by chelation. of each metal center using a tertiary amino function, yielding stable seven-membered rings. The stability of 5 limits cyclotrimerization of the benzonitrile moiety to 2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triazine, thereby su ggesting a likely mechanism for the cyclotrimerization process.