Synthesis of 1-methyl-3-aryl-substituted titanocene and zirconocene dichrorides and crystal structure of bis[eta(5)-1-methyl-3-(alpha,alpha-dimethylbenzyl)cyclopentadienyl]titanium dichloride

The syntheses of a series of 1-methyt-3-aryl-substituted titanocene and zir conocene dichrorides are reported. These complexes are synthesized by the r eaction of 2- and 3-methyl-6, 6-dimethylfulvenes (1 : 4) with aryllithium, followed by the reaction with TiCl4 . 2THF, ZrCl4 and (CpTiCl2)(2)O respect ively, to give complexes 1-5. The complex [eta (5)-1-methyl-1-3-(alpha, alp ha -dimethylbenzyl) cydopentadienyl]titanium dichloride has been studied by X-ray diffraction. The red crystal of this complex is monoclinic, space gr oup P2(1/C) with unit cell parameters: a = 6.973(6) x 10(-1) nm, b = 36.91( 2) x 10(-1) nm, c = 10.033(4) x 10(-1) nm, alpha = beta = gamma = 93.35(5)d egrees, V = 2581(5) x 10(-3) nm(3) and Z = 4. Refinement for 1004 observed reflections gives the final R of 0.088. There are four independent molecule s per unit cell.