Facile and reversible displacement of η-C5H5 from Zr by organolithiums; formation of (η5-cyclopentadienyl) trialkylzirconiums and their reactions eith electrophiles and alkenes

Abstract

Treatment of [Zr(η- C₅H₅)₂Cl₂] with 3 equiv. of BuⁿLi gives a 1 : 1 mixture of [Zr(η- C₅H₅) Buⁿ₃] and Li(C₅H₅), which reacts with HCl or I₂ to give n-butane and [Zr(η- C₅H₅)₂Cl₂] or BuⁿI and [Zr(η- C₅H₅)₂I₂], respectively, while the reaction of [Zr(η- C₅H₅)₂Cl₂] with 3.3 equiv. of C₆H₁₂Li and hex-1-ene provides a novel zirconate best represented by 3.