Single insertion of propene into a cationic zirconium(IV) complex: Isolation and X-ray crystal structure of [(C 5Me 5)Zr(CH 2CHMeCH 2Ph)(CH 2Ph)]-[B(CH 2Ph)(C 6F 5) 3

Abstract

The reaction of propene with the half-sandwich salt complex [Cp′Zr(CH 2Ph) 2][B(CH 2Ph)(C 6F 5) 3] ( 1) (Cp′ = C 5 Me 5) affords cleanly the single-insertion adduct [Cp′Zr(CH 2CHMeCH 2Ph)(CH 2Ph)][B(CH 2Ph)(C 6F 5) 3] ( 2). The crystal structure of 2 reveals an unusual ‘back-biting’ η 6-arene coordination to the d 0 metal, accounting for the unexpected stability of this compound either towards further propene insertion or towards β-hydrogen elimination.