The
![](/images/gifchars/alpha.gif)
,
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'-stabilized carbanion complexes [PhSO
2CHCNNa·THF],
3, [
t-BuSO
2CHCNNa],
4, [PhSO
2CHCNK],
5,[
t-BuSO
2CHCNK],
6, and [MeSO
2CHCNLi·TMEDA],
7, have been synthesized via the metalation of the parent(organo)sulfonylacetonitriles by BuLi, BuNa, or BnK in THF solution (or THF/TMEDA in the case of
7). In addition,complexes
3 and
7 have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray analyses and have been found to adopt relatedstructures in the solid state. Complex
7 is a molecular dimer containing a central 12-membered (OSCCNLi)
2 ringcore, with each metal rendered tetracoordinate by binding to a chelating TMEDA molecule. As found in relatedcomplexes, no direct carbanion to lithium contacts are present in the structure of
7. Complex
3 forms a polymericcage structure composed of associated "dimeric" (OSCCNNa)
2 rings, similar to those found in
7. The larger sodiumcations, and the presence of only one THF molecule/metal, allow additional contacts with the anions, leading tohexacoordination at the metal centers. These contacts include long-range transannular Na-N interactions (2.8042(14)Å) across the central dimeric ring and "interdimer" Na-C connections (2.8718(15) Å). Dissolution of complexes
3-6 and their lithiated derivatives [PhSO
2CHCNLi·TMEDA],
1, and [
t-BuSO
2CHCNLi·THF],
2, in DMSO
-d6 resultsin almost identical chemical shifts for each type of ligand. This suggests that charge-separated complexes of theform [RSO
2CHCN]
-[M(DMSO
-d6)
n]
+ are formed in highly polar solution.