Crystalline salts that contain alkali metal anions (alkalides) or trapped electrons (electrides) and cations complexed by cyclic or bicyclic poly-oxa or poly-aza molecules will be synthesized and characterized. Emphasis will be placed on the search for thermally stable alkalides and electrides. Species identification will be made by optical spectroscopy alkali metal NMR spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibilities. Structural studies by x-ray powder and single crystal diffraction will be made in order to correlate structure and properties. Conductivities, susceptibilities, EPR, and alkali metal NMR studies will be made on powders and, where feasible, on single crystals. The utilization of solutions of alkalides and electrides in aprotic solvents such as dimethyl ether and THF to carry out reductions of salts to elemental metals will be explored.
