A novel cluster consisting of seven fused MX6 octahedra, Li-14(THF)(8)[Ni7Cl17(mu-formamidinate)(3)(mu-Cl)](2)

When a THF solution made from equimolar amounts of methyllithium and N,N'-b ispentafluorophenyl formamidine, C6F5NC(H)N(H)C6F5, was added to a suspensi on of NiCl2 in THF and the mixture refluxed for 12 h, a bright yellow-green solution was formed, from which a bright green crystalline com pound was o btained in >60% yield upon partial evaporation of the solvent. This compoun d, Li-14(THF)(8)[Ni7Cl17(mu-formamidinate)(3)(mu-Cl)](2). 9.4THF, crystalli zes in the tetragonal space group P4(2)/mMm (No. 136) with Z=2. The core co nsists of two Ni-7 units bridged by two Cl atoms.