C–H bond activation of ethylene by a zirconacycle

Abstract

The reaction of C₂H₄ and β-SiH containing azasilazirconacycle Cp₂Zr{κ²-N(SiHMe₂)SiHMeCH₂} (3), formed via a γ-abstraction reaction of Cp₂Zr{N(SiHMe₂)₂}H (1), follows an unusual pathway in which a rare σ-bond metathesis reaction of ethylene generates a vinyl intermediate. That species undergoes a β-hydrogen abstraction under the reaction conditions to form a zirconium silanimine ethylene adduct en route to the metallacyclopentane product.