Crystal structures of (R,R)-{[Ph(Me)CH]2NLi·pmdeta} and {[PhC(CH2)NH]Na·pmdeta}2: alkali metal amides derived from (R,R)-bis(α-methylbenzyl)amine

The reaction of BunM (M = Li, Na) with [(R,R)]-bis(α-methylbenzyl)amine in the presence of pmdeta results in the formation of the chiral lithium amide complex (R,R)-{[Ph(Me)CH]2NLi·pmdeta} and, remarkably, the sodium enamide, {[PhC(CH2)NH]Na·pmdeta}2; both compounds have been authenticated by single crystal X-ray diffraction.