[1,2-Bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane](cyclopentadienyl)methylzirconium(II) [CpZrMe(DMPE)2]: A catalyst precursor for the selective dimerization of ethylene to 1-butene

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00098a027

Room-temperature reaction of CpZrCl(dmpe)₂ [dmpe = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane] with MeLi led to the formation of the Zr(II) alkyl derivative CpZrMe(dmpe)₂ (1), as deep red crystals. Compound 1 is monoclinic, space group C 2/c, with a = 11.675 (5) ?, b = 14.871 (5) ?, c = 28.154 (14) ?, β = 97.08 (4)°, V = 4851 ?³, and Z = 8. Room-temperature reaction of 1 with 3 equiv of ethylene gave 1 equiv of methane and CpZr(dmpe)(η⁴-butadiene)(CH₂CH³) (2), which catalyzes the selective dimerization of ethylene to 1-butene.