Synthesis and characterization of an infinite sheet of metal-alkyl bonds: unfolding the elusive structure of an unsolvated alkali-metal trisalkylmagnesiate

The study of co-complexation reactions between NaCH(2)SiMe(3) and Mg(CH(2)SiMe(3))(2) has allowed the isolation and structural elucidation of the first solvent-free alkali-metal alkylmagnesiate [{NaMg(CH(2)SiMe(3))(3)}(∞)] (1) as well as the related solvent-free sodium alkyl [{(NaCH(2)SiMe(3))(4)}(∞)] (3).