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, [Lu(2)(C(17)H(28)O(4)P)(6)]·2C(7)H(16), was formed in the reaction between potassium 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenyl ethyl phosphate, [K(2,6- (t) Bu(2)-4-MeC(6)H(2)-O)(EtO)PO(2)], and LuCl(3)(H(2)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 [Lu(2)(μ-OPO)(4)] core and the organophosphate ligand exhibits κ(2)O,O' terminal and μ(2)-κ(1)O:κ(1)O' 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.