Carbene-lithium interactions

The syntheses and characterizations are described for carbene.lithium compl exes in which the lithium center is ligated only by carbon atoms. A single crystal X-ray diffraction structure determination on one adduct confirms th e coordination environment. The C-Li distance at the carbene center is 215. 5 pm. All other coordination to the lithium center originates from a substi tuted eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl ligand with an average C-Li distance of 225.4 (7) pm.