FACILE FORMATION OF A BRIDGING CYCLOOCTATRIENEYNE LIGAND - SYNTHESIS AND MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF ETA(8)ETA(2)-C8H4(SIME(3))(2))ZR(CH(SIIME(3))(2))]

The reaction between the bridging chloride dimer [{Zr(eta-COT'')Cl-2}( 2)] [COT'' = 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)cyclooctatetraene] and [LiCH(SiMe( 3))(2)] affords the title complex; whose X-ray structure reveals a bri dging cyclooctatrieneyne ligand resulting from double hydrogen abstrac tion from a COT ring.