We have been working very hard to identify this compound that is a side product in our pyridine reaction. It is resisting all attempts for us to learn its true identity. We even began to refer to it as the mystery compound for lack of a better name. I had some nice crystals, better than in this photo sent to the crystallographer The crystallographer said they were no bueno. This compound is taking us on a long and frustrating ride. And I am sure it is a really esoteric compound that no one will really care about. But we want to know what it is.

As an update, we were able to get a crystal structure. Turns out it was a diazaditwistane molecule that formed from the dimerization of the N-silyl-1,4-dihydropyridine in our pyridine silylation reaction.