Bis(μ2-η2:η2-2,4,6-trimethylbenzonitrile)bis[(N-isopropyl-3,5-dimethylanilido)molybdenum(III)](Mo-Mo)

The title compound, [Mo-2(C11H16N)(4)(C10H11N)(2)], is a dinuclear molybdenum complex with a formal metal-metal bond [Mo center dot center dot center dot Mo separation = 2.5946 (8) angstrom], four anilide-type ligands and two bridging mesityl nitrile groups. There are two inversion symmetric molecules in the unit cell (an inversion center is localized at the mid-point of the Mo-Mo bond), each with approximate non-crystallographic C-2h symmetry. The molecules contain disordered isopropyl and 3,5-C6H3Me2 groups on different anilido ligands; the major component having an occupancy of 0.683 (7). The complex was obtained in low yield as the product from the reaction between the bridging pyrazine adduct of molybdenum trisanilide ([mu(2)-(C4H4N2){Mo(C11H16N)(3)}(2)]) and mesityl nitrile with a loss of one anilido ligand.