Bis(μ-diisopropylhydoxylaminato)-κ2O:N;κ2O:O-bis[(diisopropylhydoxylaminato-κO)beryllium]

The title compound, [Be2(C6H14NO)4], was prepared from a solution of BeCl2 in diethyl ether and two equivalents of O-lithiated N,N-diisopropylhydoxylamine. The molecular structure is composed of a dinuclear unit forming a central five-membered planar Be—O—Be—O—N ring (sum of internal angles = 540.0°; r.m.s. deviation from planarity = 0.0087 Å). Both Be atoms show the unusual coordination number of three, with one Be atom coordinated by three O atoms and the other by two O atoms and one N atom, both in distorted trigonal–planar environments. The Be—O distances are in the range 1.493 (5)–1.600 (5) Å and the Be—N distance is 1.741 (5) Å.