Dimethylaminobenzaldimine-zinc-bis(pentafluorothiophenolate) was obtained from the reaction of dimethylaminobenzaldehyde with ammonia-contaminated zinc-bis(pentafluorothiophenolate) and characterized by a structure determination. Zinc effects the catalytic formation and stabilization of the aldimine by complexation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.