A process for quickly preparing easily separable solutions of lithium alkylamides, as exemplified by the formula(R.sub.3 M).sub.x NLi(R1).sub.y.(LB).sub.z (I)wherein M is silicon or carbon, R and R.sup.1 are C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, cycloalkyl or alkylene groups, LB is a Lewis base, x and y are integers equaling 2, and z is greater than 1, comprising the steps of reacting lithium metal in bulk form with an alkylamine in mole ratios of metal to alkylamine ranging from 2 to 1 to 10 to 1 in a solvent selected from ethereal or selected from the group consisting of conjugated dienes, vinyl aromatic and polycyclic aromatic compounds, under an inert atmosphere at elevated temperatures for 1 to 10 hours, cooling the product and separating the product solution from the unreacted lithium metal in the reactor.