The bicyclic phosphorus compound 2,2',3,3',4,4'-Hexa(ferf-butyl)-1,1'-bicyclotetraphosphane /-Bu 6 P 8 , C 24 H 54 P 8 , crystallizes at room temperature in the monoclinic space group P2 1 jn (No. 14) with a = 1141.6(3)pm, b = 1805.7(2)pm, c = 1764.8(3)pm, β = 108.32(2)° and Ζ = 4 formula units. The crystal structure has been solved by 'direct methods' and refined to R = 0.076 with 5361 independent reflections.The molecule with approximate symmetry C 2h consists of two σ-bonded, trans positioned and slightly folded four-membered rings of phosphorus atoms. The exocyclic bridge between the two rings [(P-P) = 221.8 pm] and the average endocyclic bond length [d(Ρ-P) = 22.1 pm] are nearly identical, although the individual values in both rings are slightly different. The arrangement of the substituents tert-butyl is all -trans in each case. The average bond lengths d(P-C) = 189.0 pm and d(C -C) = 152.4 pm are as expected.