Crystal structure of [bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphato-κO]tris(methanol-κO) lithium methanol monosolvate

Crystals of the title compound, [Li{OOP(O-2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)₂}(CH₃OH)₃]·CH₃OH or [Li(C₂₄H₃₄O₄P)(CH₃OH)₃]·CH₃OH, have been formed in the reaction between HOOP(O-2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)₂and LiOH in methanol. The title compound is of interest as it represents the first reported crystal structure of the family of lithium phosphate diesters. The {Li(CH₃OH)₃[O₂P(O-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)₂]} unit displays the Li atom in a slightly distorted tetrahedral coordination environment and exhibits one intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond between a coordinating methanol molecule and the terminal non-coordinating O atom of the phosphate group. The unit is connected with two non-coordinating methanol molecules through two intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds, and with a neighbouring unit through two other O—H...O interactions. These intermolecular hydrogen bonds lead to the formation of infinite chains along [100]. There are no significant interactions between the chains.