Addition of boranes to (E)-(η5-C5H 5)2Zr(CH=CHPh)Cl

Abstract

In this study, the addition of boranes to (E)-(η5-C 5H5)2Zr(CH=CHPh)Cl (3) has been examined in order to investigate the regioselectivity of these 'hydroboration' reactions. We have found that these additions proceed with remarkable selectivity to give exclusive formation of a saturated organic molecule where one carbon atom has both the boron and the zirconium fragments. These reactions do not proceed via a conventional hydroboration reaction, but instead go through an initial transmetalation step to generate (E)-(η5-C5H 5)2Zr(H)Cl (1) and the corresponding alkenyl boron intermediate, whereupon subsequent hydrozirconation of this latter species gives the geminal products. An x-ray diffraction study has been conducted on gem-(η5-C5H5)2Zr(CH(Bpin)CH 2Ph)Cl (pin = 1, 2-O2C2Me4) (2). Crystals of 2 were orthorhombic with a = 18.545(3) Å, b = 15.713(3) Å, c = 16.157(3) Å in the space group Pccn. An x-ray diffraction study has also been conducted on the trinuclear zirconium oxide species (η5-C5H5)2ZrO 2[ZrCl(η5-C5H5) 2]2 (4). Crystals of 4 were orthorhombic with a = 13.6000(8) Å, b = 14.2252(8) Å, c = 17.6500(10) Å in the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2013 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.