Crystal structure and catalytic activity of tetra-kis-(μ₂-ethyl 2,6-di- tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenyl phos-phato-κ²O: O')bis-(ethyl 2,6-di- tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenyl phosphato-κ²O, O')dilutetium n-heptane disolvate

The title complex, [Lu₂(C₁₇H₂₈O₄P)₆]·2C₇H₁₆, was formed in the reaction between potassium 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenyl ethyl phosphate, [K(2,6- ^t Bu₂-4-MeC₆H₂-O)(EtO)PO₂], and LuCl₃(H₂O)₆ in water, followed by vacuum drying and recrystallization from heptane. Its crystal structure has triclinic (P [Formula: see text]) symmetry at 120 K. The lutetium tris-(phosphate) complex has a binuclear [Lu₂(μ-OPO)₄] core and the organophosphate ligand exhibits κ²O,O' terminal and μ₂-κ¹O:κ¹O' bridging coordination modes with the Lu^III ion being sixfold coordinated. The complex is of inter-est as a precatalyst in the acrylo-nitrile polymerization process and displays good catalytic activity under mild conditions.