A dinuclear zinc complex containing a diamond-core geometry: [Zn₂(μ₂-GueO)₂(GueO)₂(py)₂]·0.5(toluene) (GueOH is guethol)

The title zinc alkoxide, bis­(μ-2-eth­oxy­phenolato)-κ³O¹,O²:O¹;κ³O¹:O¹,O²-bis­[(2-eth­oxy­phenolato-κ²O¹,O²)(pyridine-κN)zinc(II)] toluene hemisolvate, [Zn₂(C₈H₉O₂)₄(C₅H₅N)₂]·0.5C₇H₈, crystallizes with two independent complex molecules located on inversion centres and one independent toluene solvent mol­ecule disordered about an inversion centre. The Zn^II atoms are six-coordinated in distorted octa­hedral geometries with O₅N donor sets. The Zn^II ions and bridging alkoxide groups are arranged in a diamond Zn₂O₂ core structure. The guetholate (2-eth­oxy­phenolate) ligands adopt two different coordination modes, viz. peripheral chelating and μ₂-bridging. Preliminary investigations of the catalytic activity of the compound in the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide demonstrate rapid and efficient generation of polylactide.