YbCl3 with successively 2KL or 2KL and then > 2Li in thf yields crystalline [Yb{L(mu-Li( thf)}(2)] 1 or [Yb{L'(mu-Li( thf)}(2)]. thf 2, characterised by X-ray, multinuclear NMR spectral and VT magnetic susceptibility data; 1 and 2 are best formulated as Yb( II) complexes having dianionic L2- or L'(2-) ligands, L or L' = {N(SiMe3)C(R)}(2)CH (R = Ph or C6H4Ph-4).