Syntheses and X-ray crystal structures of tris(imido)arsenate anions

Lithium salts of tris(imido)arsenate anions are produced by the reaction of 3 equivalents of RNH2 with AsCl3 in thf-NEt3 followed by metallation with 3 equivalents of (BuLi)-Li-n. These complexes form ion-contacted dimers in the solid-state whereby two As(NR)(3)(3-) trianions sandwich six lithium ca tions in irregular 14 membered core configurations whose degrees of distort ion are dictated by the differing ways in which the lithium cations are sol vated.