Inorganic Syntheses,Volume XXI : edited by J.P. Fackler,Jr., Wiley-Interscience,New York, 1982, xvii + 215 pages, £29.25.

The 1/1 reaction of Et₂Zn with N-t-butyliminopropanone (t-BuNC(H)C(Me)O) leads to quantitative formation of dinuclear [EtZ$\text{n(Et)(t-Bu)NC(H)=C(Me)O}$]₂ via ethyl transfer within the unstable Et₂Zn(t-BuNC(H)?C(Me)O) complex. An X-ray structure determination has shown the product to have a dinuclear structure involving a N,O-chelate bonded [Et(t-Bu)NC(H)C(Me)O]^? mono-anionic ligand and a central four membered Zn₂O₂ ring formed by intermolecular ZnO coordination. Hydrolysis of this zinc complex gives a quantitative yield of N-t-butyl-N-ethylamino propanone, which upon reaction with Et₂Zn reforms the dinuclear zinc complex.