Preparation, catalytical activity and crystal structure of a heptanuclear zinc acetate cluster

Reaction of [Zn 4 (µ 4 -O)(O 2 CCH 3 ) 6 ] with one equivalent of 4-tertiary-butylpyridine leads to a nearly quantitative formation of the heptanuclear cluster [Zn 7 O 2 (O 2 CCH 3 ) 10 ( t bupy) 2 ] ( 1 ). Here, we present the crystal structure of 1 and first results of the examination of its catalytic activity in transesterification reactions and polymerization of lactide compared to the activity of [Zn 4 (µ 4 -O)(O 2 CCH 3 ) 6 ] in the presence of 4-tertiary-butylpyridine.