Magnesium amide synthesis, lithium

Although of relatively weak acidity, amines will react with either carbanionic metal alkyls or hydridic metal hydrides to form amides with the elimination of alkane or hydrogen, respectively. The easiest and most exploited method for the synthesis of lithium and magnesium amides is to treat lithium alkyls or Grignard reagents (normally commercially available) with the corresponding amine (equations 25,47 264 and 2749). 

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