Abstract: There is provided a process for preparing a lithium amide composition in which in a first step lithium metal is brought into contact with ammonia to form lithium bronze and in a second step the lithium bronze is reacted with a 1,3-diene or an arylolefin, such as butadiene, isoprene, piperylene, dimethylbutadiene, hexadiene, styrene, methyl styrene, divinylbenzene, naphthalene or anthracene, in the presence of a solvent wherein the temperature is maintained at or below the boiling point of ammonia. Examples of solvents include pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, heptane, octane, cyclohexane, toluene, xylene, cumene, ethyl benzene, tetraline, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran (THF), 2-methyl-THF, tetrahydropyran, diisopropyl ether, dibutyl ether, dioxan, methyl-tert-butyl ether or glycol ether. Lithium amide compositions obtainable by said process show improved activity, particularly in reactions involving enolate formation.