PREPARATION AND X-RAY STRUCTURE OF A NOVEL CHIRAL METHYLENE-BRIDGED TITANOCENE COMPLEX

The synthesis of a novel titanocene complex 2a containing a cyclopenta dienyl and an indenyl ligand is reported. The complex was prepared in a one-pot procedure from indene and pentamethylene fulvene. The prepar ation and X-ray structure determination of the tetrahydroindenyl analo g 2b is also reported. Catalytic hydrogenation of 2-phenylpyrroline wa s conducted with the two complexes. It was found that complex 2b catal yzed the reaction at a rate of five times that observed for complex 2a . This rate difference is attributed to the difference in electron den sity at the metal center.