The reaction of a Et2O solution of LiN(Cy)SiMe3 (Cy = cyclohexyl) with PhCN in the presence of the Lewis-base donor tetrahydrofuran (THF) or Me2N(CH2)2NMe2 (TMEDA) gave the THF- or TMEDA-solvated unsymmetrical aliphatic lithium benzamidinato compound [{PhC(NCy)(NSiMe3)}Li(THF)]2 (1) or [{PhC(NCy)(NSiMe3)}Li(TMEDA)] (2). Treatment of LiN(Cy)SiMe3 with PhCN in diethyl ether, and further with CuCl, MgBr2(THF)2 or ZrCl4 at a ratio of 1 : 1, 2 : 1 and 3 : 1 allowed the formation of novel metal complexes [{PhC(NCy)(NSiMe3)}Cu]2 (3), [{PhC(NCy)(NSiMe3)}2Mg(OEt2)] (4) and [{PhC(NCy)(NSiMe3)}3ZrCl] (5), respectively. The X-ray structures of complexes 1–4 are presented. Complex 5/MAO system allows the moderate polymerization of ethylene.