Synthesis and crystal structure of the mixed alkali metal imide Li4 -xNa2 +x[NC(Ph)But]6: three (metal–nitrogen)2 ring dimers in a triple-layered stack

The first uncomplexed mixed alkali metal molecular species to be synthesised and structurally characterised, Li4 –xNa2+x[NC(Ph)But]6, has been shown by X-ray diffraction to exist as a complicated series of discrete isostructural molecules, each with six metal centres, arranged in a triple-stack of (metal–nitrogen)2 cyclic rings.