Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the manufacture of alkali metal salt complexes of the formula (M.sub.x X.nL).sub.y, where M is an alkali metal, e.g. lithium, X is an anion, e.g. halide or thiocyanate, L is an organic electron-donating ligand (Lewis base), x is the valency of the anion X, n is usually 1,2 or 4 and y is an integer, by the in situ reaction of an alkali metal or an alkali metal hydride or alkyl, for example lithium, lithium hydride or butyl lithium, and an anhydrous ammonium salt comprising the anion X, e.g. an anhydrous ammonium halide, the reaction being performed in solution in an anhydrous solvent in the presence of the ligand (L).

Abstract: Novel metallo-organic complexes of the formula (M.sub.x X.sub.z. nL)y where M is an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal(at. Nos. 21-30, 39-48 and 72-80 inclusive) or a rare earth metal (at. Nos. 57-71 inclusive), X is an anion e.g. Cl.sup.-, Br.sup.-, NO.sub.3 -, NCS.sup.- etc. and L is a Lewis base, are prepared by reacting a source of the metal M under anhydrous conditions with an anhydrous ammonium salt of the anion X in the presence of the Lewis base, and cooling the reaction mixture to precipitate the complex.