The title compound, C4H8N6O2, represents a virtually unknown vicinal o
rthoamide array, formally derivable from oxalic acid. The cis-fused im
idazolidinone rings adopt a flattened envelope conformation. H atoms o
f the nearly eclipsed vicinal diamine groups [N1-C1-C5-N5 -9.5(3)degre
es] are oriented inwards [H1a ... H5a = 2.44(4) and H1b ... H5b = 2.49
(4) Angstrom].