Bis[μ-bis­(2,6-diiso­propyl­phen­yl) phosphato-κ(2) O:O′]bis­[(2,2′-bi­pyridine-κ(2) N,N′)lithium] toluene disolvate and its catalytic activity in ring-opening polymerization of ∊-caprolactone and l-dilactide

The solvated centrosymmmtric title compound, [Li(2)(C(24)H(34)O(4)P)(2)(C(10)H(8)N(2))(2)]·2C(7)H(8), was formed in the reaction between {Li[(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)-O)(2)POO](MeOH)(3)}(MeOH) and 2,2′-bi­pyridine (bipy) in toluene. The structure has monoclinic (P2(1)/n) symmetry at 120 K and the asymmetric unit consists of half a complex mol­ecule and one mol­ecule of toluene solvent. The diaryl phosphate ligand demonstrates a μ-κO:κO′-bridging coordination mode and the 2,2′-bi­pyridine ligand is chelating to the Li(+) cation, generating a distorted tetra­hedral LiN(2)O(2) coordination polyhedron. The complex exhibits a unique dimeric Li(2)O(4)P(2) core. One isopropyl group is disordered over two orientations in a 0.621 (4):0.379 (4) ratio. In the crystal, weak C—H⋯O and C—H⋯π inter­actions help to consolidate the packing. Catalytic systems based on the title complex and on the closely related complex {Li[(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)-O)(2)POO](MeOH)(3)}(MeOH) display activity in the ring-opening polymerization of ∊-caprolactone and l-dilactide.