Bis{μ-1,3-bis[dimethyl(pyridin-3-yl)silyl]propane-κ²N:N′}bis[diiodidozinc(II)] from synchrotron data

The structure of the title compound, [Zn2I4(C34H52N4Si4)2], has been determined from synchrotron data, λ = 0.70000Å. The complete metallacyclic molecule is generated by crystallographic inversion symmetry, with the ZnII ion located in a general position. The 1,3-bis(dimethylsilyl-3-pyridine)propane ligand binds to two zinc(II) ions in a horse-shoe fashion, resulting in formation of a dimeric 24-membered macrocycle. The ZnII ion has a typical tetrahedral geometry via two iodide ions and two N donor atoms of the 1,3-bis(dimethylsilyl-3-pyridine)propane ligand. The macrocyclic dimers interact via weak interactions [I⋯H (H3CSi-) = 3.08, 3.27Å].