Bis[μ-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amido]bis[methylcobalt(II)]

The green title complex, [Co2(CH3)2(C12H21N2Si)2], was obtained from bis{[μ-N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amido]chloridocobalt(II)} and methyllithium in diethyl ether at 195 K via a metathesis reaction. The dimeric cobalt(II) complex exhibits a crystallographic center of inversion in the middle of the Co2N2 ring (average Co—N = 2.050 Å). The CoII atom shows a distorted tetrahedral coordination sphere. The exocyclic Co—N bond length to the pyridyl group shows a similar value of 2.045 (4) Å. The exocyclic methyl group has a rather long Co—C bond length of 2.019 (5) Å.