By reaction of Zn4O(O2CNMe2)(6) (1) with [NH2Me2][O2CNMe2] in toluene as medium, the homoleptic zinc compound [Zn(O2CNMe2)(2)] (2) was obtained, which reverted back to the tetranuclear mu-oxo derivative by controlled hydrolysis. The reaction of ZnO in MeCN with an excess of [NH2Me2][O2CNMe2] in concentrated solution produced high yields of [Zn(O2CNMe2)(2)] (2) or [NH2Me2][Zn-2(O2CNMe2)(5)] center dot xMeCN, 3 center dot xMeCN, x = 1 or 2, depending on the experimental conditions. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.