Armstrong DR, Clegg W, Davies RP, Liddle ST, Linton DJ, Raithby PR, Snaith R, Wheatley AE
Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XL (UK).
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 1999 Nov 15;38(22):3367-3370.
Lithium cages containing hydride: The reaction of tBuLi with Me(2)AlN(2-Pyr)Ph in toluene gave Li(8)(H){N(2-Pyr)Ph}(6)Li(Me(2)AltBu(2))(2), whose cation is the first molecular main group metal species to contain interstitial hydride (the cluster core is shown in the picture). Treatment of the reaction mixture with THF gave the neutral hydride Li(7)(H)N(2-Pyr)Ph, which has a capped octahedral (Li(+))(7) cluster core. 2-Pyr=2-pyridyl.