The reaction of Cp*TiX3 [X = Cl (1a), F (1b), Cp* = η5-C5Me5] with an excess of AlMe3
afforded the methylated products Cp*TiCl2Me (2a) and (Cp*TiF2Me)(AlMe2F) (2b), respectively, whereas under thermal conditions the reduced titanium species Cp*2Ti2(μ-Cl)6Al2Me4 (3) and Cp*2Ti2(μ-F)8Al4Me8 (4) were obtained in moderate yields. The reduction of Ti(IV)
to Ti(III) is observed when Cp‘2TiF2 (Cp‘ = η5-C5H5, η5-C5H4Me, Cp*) and Cp*TiF3 are treated
with AlEt3, leading to [Cp‘2Ti(μ-F)2AlEt2]2 [Cp‘ = η5-C5H5 (5), η5-C5H4Me (6), Cp* (7)] and
Cp*2Ti2(μ-F)8Al4Et8 (8), respectively. The crystal structures of complexes 3, 4, and 6 have
been determined by X-ray single-crystal structure analyses. The core of structure 3 is
described as a chair conformation. The environments of the Al and Ti atoms in 3 are distorted
tetrahedral and pseudo square pyramidal, respectively. The single-crystal structure analysis
of 4 shows an octahedral metal core for Al4Ti2 with the Ti atoms occupying trans positions.
The core of complex 6 is a nonplanar eight-membered ring consisting of two titanium atoms,
two aluminum atoms, and four bridging fluorine atoms.