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

The title complex, [Lu2 (C17 H28 O4 P)6 ]·2C7 H16 , was formed in the reaction between potassium 2,6-di- tert -butyl-4-methyl-phenyl ethyl phosphate, [K(2,6- t Bu2 -4-MeC6 H2 -O)(EtO)PO2 ], and LuCl3 (H2 O)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 κ2 O , O ' terminal and μ2 -κ1 O :κ1 O ' 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.