Synthesis of the first bimetallic barium yttrium oxo alkoxide: crystal structure of [Y 4 Ba 2 (µ 6 -O)(µ 3 -OEt) 8 (dpm) 6 ][dpm = Bu t C(O)CHC(O)Bu t ]

The compound [Y4Ba2(µ6-O)(µ3-OEt)8(dpm)6][dpm = ButC(O)CHC(O)But] is obtained by mixing, in the presence of dpmH, a solution of yttrium oxo isopropoxide in toluene with a solution resulting from the reaction of Ba metal with PriOH–EtOH; its crystal structure consists of an oxygen-centred octahedron built up from two barium and four yttrium atoms connected by eight triply bridging ethoxy groups, each of which is chelated by a terminal dpm ligand.