[N,N′-Bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)ethane-1,2-diimine-κ2N,N′]tetracarbonylchromium(0)

The octahedral coordination of the Cr0 atom in the title compound, [Cr(C20H24N2)(CO)4], displays some distortion. This is manifested by an exocyclic torsion angle C(mesitylene)—N—Cr—C(carbonyl) that deviates by more than 20° from planarity. Another structural feature is the significant distortion from linearity of the Cr—C—O angles of the two carbonyl groups that interact with both ortho-methyl groups of the two mesitylene rings. The remaining two carbonyl groups overlap with the centres of the mesitylene rings themselves and are linear within <3°.