INTERACTION OF CARBON-DIOXIDE WITH ZIRCONOCENE AND HAFNOCENE DIHYDRIDES

Zirconocene and hafnocene dihydrides Cp(2)MH(2) (M = Zr, Hf) are capab le of rapid absorbing carbon dioxide at room temperature and atmospher ic pressure in a THF medium. in the case of Cp(2)ZrH(2), the reaction results in the cleavage of the C=O bond of a CO2 molecule to form cycl ic trimeric zirconocene oxide [Cp(2)ZrO](3), whose structure was confi rmed by analytical and spectral methods as well as by X-ray diffractio n study. Small amounts of formaldehyde and methyl formate are found in the organic products of the reaction.