Investigations on 1‐Metallaindanes

Abstract

1‐Mercuraindane (6) was prepared in three steps from 1‐bromo‐2‐(2‐bromoethyl)benzene (3) and converted into 1‐magnesaindane (1) by reaction with magnesium. In solution, 6 was observed to occur in a remarkable dimer/trimer equilibrium, whereas 1 forms a dimer. From 1 and dichlorozirconocene, the 1‐zirconaindane 2 was obtained, which reacted with B(C6F5)3 to form the adduct 13. According to spectroscopic data, 13 is formed by attack of the β‐methylene carbon atom at the boron atom and has a zwitterionic structure with weak interactions between the zirconium ion and one of the ortho‐fluorine atoms. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003)