Group 4 metallocenes containing hetaryl substituents at their pi-ligands: synthesis and characterization of the parent bis[2-(2-furyl)indenyl]zirconocene system

2-Lithiofuran was added to 2-indanone to yield 2-(2-furyl)indene (4) after hydrolytic workup. Treatment of 4 with n-butyl-lithium gave 2-(2-furyl)inde nyllithium (5). Subsequent reaction of 5 with 0.5 molar equivalents of zirc onium tetrachloride in toluene yielded bis[2-(2-furyl)indenyl]zirconium dic hloride (6) that was characterized by X-ray diffraction. The homogeneous 6- methylalumoxane Ziegler-Natta catalyst produced elastomeric polypropylene. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.