Synthesis and crystallographic characterization of [2,2-bis(η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)-3,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2-zirconafuran-5-one-κO5]triisobutylaluminium

Abstract

The crystal structure of the title zwitterionic zirconocene complex containing a furanone unit, [AlZr(C10H15)2(C4H9)3(C9H18O2Si2)], is reported. On reacting a zirconafuranone with two equivalents of HAl(i-Bu)2, disproportionation of the Lewis acid results in the formation of a triisobutylaluminium fragment, Al(i-Bu)3, which coordinates to the exocyclic carbonyl O atom of the zirconafuranone ring. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that the zirconafuranone ring remains intact with coordination of the aluminium to the exocyclic O atom. One of thei-butyl groups is disordered over two sets of sites, with an occupancy ratio of 0.731 (3):0.269 (3).