lithium metal in liquid ammonia reduction/nitrous

[zzmethheadzz]

in a lithim metal in liquid ammonia reduction, someone suggested that it wouldn't necessarily have to be anhydrous.. he thought nitrous oxide would create the same reaction.  anyone know how much a differance anhydrous and nitrous would be in this reaction?  

[former_chemist]

Nitrous is an oxidant.  You can't use it in a reduction reaction.  However, nitrous and lithium do make a nice explosion if mixed without a solvent.