Synthesis and Structural Characterization of New Zirconium(IV) Bent Metallocenes comprising η8‐Cyclooctatetraenyl and Bulky Cyclopentadienyl Ligands

The new zirconium bent metallocenes (COT)Zr(Cp^tBu2)Cl ( 1 ) and (COT)Zr(Cp′′)Cl ( 2 ) were synthesized in a straightforward manner and in high yields ( 1 : 91 %, 2 : 86 %) by treatment of in situ‐prepared (COT)ZrCl₂(THF) with 1 equiv. of K(Cp^tBu2) or K(Cp′′), respectively (COT = η⁸‐cyclooctatetraenyl; Cp^tBu2 = η⁵‐1,3‐di‐tert‐butylcyclopentadienyl; Cp′′ = η⁵‐1,3‐bis(trimethylsilyl)cyclopentadienyl). Subsequent reaction of 1 with 1 equiv. of phenyllithium afforded the σ‐phenyl derivative (Cp^tBu2)Zr(COT)Ph ( 3 ) as orange crystals in 83 % isolated yield. All three new compounds were structurally characterized through single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.