rac-[1,2-Ethylene-1,1‘-bis(η5-tetrahydroindenyl)][η2- bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene]zirconium, the First Zirconocene−Alkyne Complex without Additional Ligands: Synthesis, Reactions, and X-ray Crystal Structure

A general benzylic C–H activation and C–C coupling reaction of zirconocenes mediated by C–N bond cleavage in tert-butylisocyanide – unusual formation of iminoacyl complexes

Reactions of the zirconocene alkyne complex [rac-(ebthi)Zr(η²-Me₃SiC₂SiMe₃)] (rac-(ebthi) = rac-1,2-ethylene-1,1′-bis(η⁵-tetrahydroindenyl)) with tert-butylisocyanide and methylbenzenes were investigated.

Multiple and Highly Selective Alkyne-Isonitrile C-C and C-N Couplings at Group 4 Metallocenes

Reactions of the group 4 metallocene alkyne complexes [Cp'2 M(η(2) -Me3 SiC2 SiMe3 )] [Cp'2 =rac-(ebthi)=rac-1,2-ethylene-1,1'-bis(η(5) -tetrahydroindenyl): M=Ti, Zr, Hf; Cp'2 =Cp*2 (Cp*=η(5) -pentamethylcyclopentadienyl): M=Zr] with 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide (2-xylyl isonitrile, XyNC) were investigated. Depending on the metal, the Cp' ligand, and/or the stoichiometry, as well as the reaction temperature and time, different products were obtained. The products included simple end-on coordination compounds of XyNC in addition to those of the coupling of Me3 SiC2 SiMe3 with two, three, or four isonitriles to form enimine complexes, aza-metallacycloallenes, and fused heterocyclic systems, respectively. One example of the latter tricyclic compounds was subject to demetalation by using HCl. Molecular structures of the heterometallacycles were determined by X-ray crystallography. The interconversion of the products was investigated by (1) H NMR spectroscopy.

Combination of spectroscopic methods: in situ NMR and UV/Vis measurements to understand the formation of group 4 metallacyclopentanes from the corresponding metallacyclopropenes

By reaction of the dichloride rac-(ebthi)HfCl(2) [ebthi = 1,2-ethylene-1,1'-bis(eta(5)-tetrahydroindenyl)] with lithium in the presence of bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene, the hafnacyclopropene rac-(ebthi)Hf(eta(2)-Me(3)SiC(2)SiMe(3)) (1-Hf) was obtained. The reaction of the blue-green complex 1-Hf with an excess of ethylene at room temperature leads by insertion of the olefin to the yellow-green hafnacyclopentene 2-Hf which is only stable in solution and eliminates the alkyne at 100 degrees C under ethylene to form the corresponding yellow hafnacyclopentane 3-Hf, which was characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The reaction of 1-Hf to give stepwise via 2-Hf the complex 3-Hf was investigated in detail and compared to the formation and stability of the corresponding zirconacyclopropene 1-Zr, zirconacyclopentene 2-Zr, and zirconacyclopentane 3-Zr. Moreover, the reaction of the titanocene alkyne complex 1-Ti with ethylene was studied. For investigating the reaction behavior of the alkyne complexes 1-M, NMR spectroscopy was used and the results were compared with UV/vis spectroscopy, suggesting the existence of a bis-pi-complex prior to the formation of the hafnacyclopentene 2-Hf.

Carbon−Oxygen Bond Cleavage with η9,η5-Bis(indenyl)zirconium Sandwich Complexes

Treatment of the eta9,eta5-bis(indenyl)zirconium sandwich complex, (eta9-C9H5-1,3-(SiMe3)2)(eta5-C9H5-1,3-(SiMe3)2)Zr, with dialkyl ethers such as diethyl ether, CH3OR (R=Et, nBu, tBu), nBu2O, or iPr2O resulted in facile C-O bond scission furnishing an eta5,eta5-bis(indenyl)zirconium alkoxy hydride complex and free olefin. In cases where ethylene is formed, trapping by the zirconocene sandwich yields a rare example of a crystallographically characterized, base-free eta5,eta5-bis(indenyl)zirconium ethylene complex. Observation of normal, primary kinetic isotope effects in combination with rate studies and the stability of various model compounds support a mechanism involving rate-determining C-H activation to yield an eta5,eta5-bis(indenyl)zirconium alkyl hydride intermediate followed by rapid beta-alkoxide elimination. For isolable eta6,eta5-bis(indenyl)zirconium THF compounds, thermolysis at 85 degrees C also resulted in C-O bond cleavage to yield the corresponding zirconacycle. Both mechanistic and computational studies again support a pathway involving haptotropic rearrangement to eta5,eta5-bis(indenyl)zirconium intermediates that promote rate-determining C-H activation and ultimately C-O bond scission.