Synthesis, structure, and reactions of (1-ethoxyethyl)zirconocene chloride, a stable acyclic secondary zirconocene alkyl

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00101a012

The title compound 1 (Cp₂Zr(Cl)CH(CH₃)OCH₂CH₃, Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅) has been prepared in good yield by treatment of Cp₂ZrCl₂ with (1-ethoxyethyl)lithium. Compound 1 is the first example of a stable, structurally characterized secondary zirconocene alkyl derivative which shows no tendency to rearrange to the primary alkyl derivative at room temperature. Carbon monoxide and isocyanides react with 1 to give migratory insertion products without rearrangement of the 1-ethoxyethyl fragment. At high temperatures, 1 decomposes to give ethylene and Cp₂Zr(Cl)OCH₂CH₃, the same products obtained at ambient conditions from the reaction of Cp₂ZrHCl (Schwartz's reagent) with ethyl vinyl ether.