π(Arene) versus donor ligand complexation in the formation of the heterobimetallic lithium-potassium dianion of (S)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)allylamine

Reaction of the chiral amine (S)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)allylamine with n-BuLi and n-BuK in the presence of thf produces crystals of the N and C metallated heterobimetallic tetramer, {[(S)-α-(PhC(H)Me)(CH2CH)CHK)N]Li · (thf)}4. The three different K+ cations in the asymmetric unit show differing coordination environments dependent on preferential binding with either thf molecules or available π electron density.