Fortuitous formation of [(LiCl)6{(Me2NCH2C8H5N)3P}2]: an amine-ligated hexameric lithium chloride aggregate

Deprotonation of gramine with nBuLi and subsequent reaction with PCl3 yielded a novel hexameric lithium chloride aggregate ligated by six dimethylamino groups from the intended product, tris{(3-dimethylaminomethyl)indolyl}phosphine. The preparation and spectroscopic and structural characterization of the title complex are reported.