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(C 10 H 15 ) 2 (C 4 H 9 ) 3 (C 9 H 18 O 2 Si 2 )], 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 the i-butyl groups is disordered over two sets of sites, with an occupancy ratio of 0.731 (3):0.269 (3).