Formation of [M(15-crown-5)2]2[Li(NHPy)3] (M = K or Cs): the first structurally authenticated examples of a monomeric lithium species coordinated by three amide anions

The title compounds crystallise as solvent-separated ion triplets incorporating the first structurally authenticated examples of a monomeric species with lithium coordinated by three rather than two amide anions; the compounds, products of a heavier alkali metal mediated ligand cleavage reaction, can be viewed as the products of an incomplete metathesis reaction due to their heterobimetallic nature.