Hydride Encapsulation by a Molecular Main-Group-Metal Cluster:  Single-Crystal Neutron Diffraction Structure of [{Ph(2-C₅H₄N)N}₆HLi₈]⁺

The new very-intense vertical-axis Laue diffractometer (VIVALDI) at the Institut Laue-Langevin has been used to probe the single-crystal structure of [(t-Bu2AlMe2)(2)Li](-)[{Ph(2-C5H4N)N}(6)HLi8](+), with data proving that the molecular main-group-metal cluster cation component incorporates interstitial hydride. Variations in nitrogen coordination mode and distortion of the metal core are in accord with octahedral hydride coordination (H-Li = 1.92(2), 2.04(2), 2.07(2) Angstrom), two metal centers being nonbonding with respect to hydride ((HLi)-Li-... = 2.86(2) Angstrom).