Beryllium-nitrogen π-bonding: the X-ray structure of bis(di-t-butylmethyleneamino)beryllium dimer, [Be(N:CBut2)2]2

Abstract

X-Ray crystal structure analysis of bis(di-t-butylmethyleneamino)beryllium dimer, [Be(N:CBu^t ₂)₂]₂, prepared from the ketimine Bu^t ₂C:NH and di-isopropyl-beryllium, shows that it adopts a structure containing both bridging and terminal methyleamino-groups, the latter attached to the 3-co-ordinate metal atoms by Be–N bonds only 150 pm long, the shortest yet reported for a solid beryllium–nitrogen compound.