In the title compound, [LiTa(C(10)H(15))(C(10)H(13)N)(2)Cl(C(4)H(10)O)], the Ta(V) atom is coordinated by a η(5)-penta-methyl-cyclo-penta-dienyl (Cp*) ligand, a chloride ion and two N-bonded 2-tert-butyl-phenyl-imide dianions. With respect to the two N atoms, the chloride ion and the centroid of the Cp* ring, the tantalum coordination geometry is approximately tetra-hedral. The lithium cation is bonded to both the 2-tert-butyl-phenyl-imide dianions and also a diethyl ether mol-ecule, in an approximate trigonal planar arrangement. The Ta⋯Li separation is 2.681 (15) Å. In the crystal, a weak C-H⋯Cl inter-action links the mol-ecules. When compared to the 2,6-diisopropyl-phenyl-imide analogue ('the Wigley derivative') of the title compound, the two structures are conformationally matched with an overall r.m.s. difference of 0.461Å.