SYNTHESIS AND MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF THE LITHIATED TRIAMIDOAMINE [LI-3(N((CH2CH2SIBUME2)-ME-T)(3))(THF)(N)]

Addition of THF to a pentane solution of [Li-3{N((CH2CH2SiBuMe2)-Me-t) (3)}] prepared in situ from tris-(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN) leads to t he crystallization of [Li-3{N((CH2CH2SiBuMe2)-Me-t)(3)}(THF)(n)] (n = 3). The molecular structure of the compound (n = 2) reveals a dimeric structure as shown. Two triamidoamine ligands are linked via incorpora tion of one amido nitrogen atom each into a Li2N2 Unit. Sublimation of the above allows isolation of the base-free compound [Li-3{N((CH2CH2S iBuMe2)-Me-t)(3)}].