Aggregation of lithium and mixed thallium(I)–lithium amides through η3- and η6-π-arene interactions in the solid

The mixed Li–Tl amide [C10H6{N[Li(thf)2]SiMe3}{N(Tl)SiMe3}] has been synthesized and shown to aggregate via η6-arene–thallium coordination in the solid; a related pattern of aggregation is found for the partially solvated homometallic Li amide [C10H6{N[Li(thf)]SiMe3}{N(Li)SiMe3}] which displays an unusual η3-arene–lithium interaction.