Provided are electrochemical cells that include a compound having the general formula wherein R1 is moiety associated with a lithium ion, X1 and X3 are unsubstituted methylene moieties, X2 and X4 are each independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted methylene moiety, X is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C10 alkylene moiety, arylene moiety or heteroarylene moiety, R2 is selected from Li, H, an alkyl moiety, or a heteroalkyl moiety, 0