Method of preparing alkali metal complex compounds

A method of preparing an alkali metal complex compound of the Formulas I and II ##STR23## wherein Me represents an alkali metal, each X represents sulphur or oxygen, n represents a whole number from 3 to 20, L and L' represents a mono- or polyfunctional ether or amine, respectively, p and q are whole numbers from 0 to 4, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 are each hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl moieties and/or two or more such moieties closed to form an aliphatic or aromatic ring system, which comprises reacting an appropriate compound of the following general formulas III, IV, V, VI or VII, ##STR24## with an alkali metal in the above-named mono- or polyfunctional ether and/or amine at a temperature between -100.degree. and +100.degree. C. and with the exclusion of air, said ether component or amine component being added to the reaction mixture during or after the end of the reaction of the alkali metal.