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 LuIII 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.