Crystal structure and catalytic activity of tetrakis(μ 2 -ethyl 2,6-di- tert -butyl-4-methylphenyl phosphato-κ2 O: O ′)bis(ethyl 2,6-di- tert -butyl-4-methylphenyl phosphato-κ2 O, 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-methylphenyl 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-1) 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 Lu^III ion being sixfold coordinated. The complex is of interest as a precatalyst in the acrylonitrile polymerization process and displays good catalytic activity under mild conditions.