Dichloridobis{N-[(dimethyl­amino)dimethyl­silyl]-2,6-dimethyl­anilido-κ(2) N,N′}zirconium(IV)

The monomeric title zirconium(IV) compound, [Zr(C(12)H(21)N(2)Si)(2)Cl(2)], was prepared by the metathetical reaction of [LiN(SiMe(2)NMe(2))(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3))](2) with zirconium tetra­chloride. The Zr(IV) atom is N,N′-chelated by the N-silylated anilido ligand. Along with two Cl atoms, the six-coordinated Zr(IV) atom demonstrates a highly distorted octa­hedral geometry. The two ligands around the Zr(IV) atom are arranged cis to each other and obey the C (2) symmetry operation. That means the asymmetric unit consists of only half of the mol­ecular compound and the complete mol­ecule is generated by a twofold axis. The two ends of the N—Si—N chelating unit exhibit different affinities for the metal center. The Zr—N(amino) bond is longer than the Zr—N(anilido) bond.