A titanacyclobutane precursor to alkyl-substituted titanium-carbene complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00135a016

The preparation of metallacycle 1 by the addition of 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene to precursors of Cp₂Ti=CH₂ (Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅) is described. Reaction of 1 with benzophenone affords 3,3-dimethyl-1,1-diphenyl-1,4-pentadiene as the only organic product. When phosphines PMeR₂ (R = Me, Ph) are added to 1, the phosphine adducts (PMeR₂)Cp₂Ti=CHCMe₂CHCH₂ (2) are obtained. Reaction with dimethylaluminum chloride affords a heterobimetallic alkylidene complex, Cp₂TiCH(CMe₂CHCH₂)AlMe₂Cl (3). The observed reactivity of 1 is consistent with productive cleavage of the metal-containing ring to Cp₂Ti=CHC(Me₂)₂CHCH₂ .