Carbon–hydrogen bond activation by an electron deficient bis(aryl)(cyclo-octatetraene)zirconium(IV) complex: stepwise thermal rearrangement of bis(σ-mesityl)(η8-cyclo-octatetraene)zirconium(IV) to a complex containing a bridging mesityl, then a bridging alkylidene

Abstract

A stepwise thermal rearrangement of [(η⁸-C₈H₈)Zr(Mes)₂](Mes = 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂) led to the loss of mesitylene and to a dinuclear complex,[(η⁸-C₈H₈)₂Zr(µ-2,4-Me ₂-6CH₂C₆H₂)₂], containing two bridging η³-benzylic groups, which further rearranged to a complex containing a bridging mesityl and a bridging alkylidene ligand, as shown by the X-ray analysis on both complexes.