cis-Tetra-kis(μ-N-phenyl-acetamidato)-κ(4) N:O;κ(4) O:N-bis-[(benzo-nitrile-κN)rhodium(II)](Rh-Rh).

The complex molecule of the title compound, [Rh2{N(C6H5)COCH3}4(C6H5CN)2], exhibits crystallographically imposed centrosymmetry. The four acetamide ligands bridging the dirhodium core are arranged in a 2,2-cis manner, with two N atoms and two O atoms coordinating to the unique Rh(II) atom cis to one another. The Neq-Rh-Rh-Oeq torsion angles on the acetamide bridges vary between 1.62†(4) and 1.78†(4)°. The Rh-Rh bond length is 2.4319†(3)†à . The axial nitrile ligand completes the distorted octahedral coordination sphere and shows a non-linear coordination with an Rh-N-C bond angle of 167.14†(15)°, while the N-C bond length is 1.135†(3)†à .