SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURE OF ZR2CL4(ETA-6-C6H5PME2)2(PME2PH)2, AN ARENECOMPLEX OF ZIRCONIUM(II)

The title compound consists of two identical subunits, (PMe2Ph)Cl2Zr(e ta6-C6H5PMe2), connected by the coordination of the phosphorus atom of each (eta6-C6H5PMe2) moiety to the zirconium atom of the other. There are two crystallographically distinct molecules, each on a 1BAR posit ion, in the unit cell. In each a pyramidal trans-ZrP2Cl2 unit has an e ta6-arene ring opposite and approximately parallel to the mean plane o f the P2Cl2 set of atoms. The crystals are isotypic to those of the pr eviously reported Hf2Br4(eta6-C6H5PMe2)2(PMe2Ph)2. They are triclinic, P1BAR with a=9.172(2), b=13.710(2), c=15.458(1) angstrom, alpha=101.4 7(1), beta=91.74(1), gamma=98.21(1)-degrees, V=1882.1(4) angstrom3, Z= 2. The Zr to carbon distances are in the range 2.29-2.52 angstrom, the mean Zr-Cl distance is 2.506[12] angstrom and the Zr-P distances are in the range 2.759(2)-2.771(2) angstrom.