Crystal structure and catalytic activity of tetra­kis­(μ(2)-ethyl 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl­phenyl phos­phato-κ(2) O:O′)bis­(ethyl 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl­phenyl 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-methyl­phenyl 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 [Image: 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 inter­est as a precatalyst in the acrylo­nitrile polymerization process and displays good catalytic activity under mild conditions.