The reactions of the heteroleptic lithium amide [Li3(μ-hmds)2(μ,μ-hpp)] (1), where [hmds]− = hexamethyldisilazide and [hpp]− = hexahydropyrimidopyrimidide, with MnCl2, CoCl2 or ZnBr2 result in the formation of the separated ion-pairs [MLi7(μ8-O)(μ,μ-hpp)6]+[A]−, which each consist of a {MLi7} oxo-centred cube structural motif (M = Mn 2, Co 4, Zn 5), with each face of the cube being bridged by an [hpp]− ligand. In the case of M = Mn and Co, the counter ion, [A]−, is the pentagonal anionic inverse crown [{Li(μ-hmds)}5(μ5-Cl)]− (3), whereas the reaction with M = Zn produces the known tris-amido zincate [Zn(hmds)3]− counter anion.