Synthesis, structure and reactivity of a zirconocene dichloride with (Me3Si)(2)NSiMe2 side-chains

The new zirconocene [(eta (5)-C5H4SiMe2N(SiMe3)(2)](2)ZrCl2 (1) has been pr epared in a convenient three-step synthesis. A crystal structure determinat ion of 1 shows two molecules in the unit cell, one in which the (Me3Si)(2)N SiMe2 groups are accommodated in a nearly synperiplanar conformation direct ly above and below the ZrCl2 group, and one in which these groups exhibit a synclinal conformation. The reaction of 1 with mixture of SOCl2/SO2Cl2 lea ds to the formation of [(eta (5)-C5H4SiMe2Cl](2)ZrCl2 (2).