Thermolysis of titanocene methyl compounds bearing t-butyl- and benzyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl ligands

Elimination of methane during thermolysis of title compounds results in the formation of σ-Ti-C bond to t-butyl or benzyl group. The t-butyl-containing titanocene methyl compound Ti(III)Me(η⁵-C₅Me₄t-Bu)₂] (5) eliminates methane at 110 °C to give cleanly Ti(III)(η⁵:η¹-C₅Me₄CMe₂CH₂)(η⁵-C₅Me₄t-Bu)] (6). The methyl derivative of analogous benzyl-containing titanocene Ti(III)Me(η⁵-C₅Me₄CH₂Ph)₂] was not isolated because it eliminated methane at ambient temperature to give Ti(III)(η⁵:η¹-C₅Me₄CH₂-o-C₆H₄)(η⁵-C₅Me₄CH₂Ph)] (7) with one phenyl ring linked to titanium atom in ortho-position. The corresponding titanocene dimethyl compound TiMe₂{η⁵-C₅Me₄t-Bu)}₂] (9) eliminates two methane molecules at 110 °C to give the singly tucked-in 1,1-dimethylethane-1,2-diyl-tethered titanocene Ti{η⁵:η¹:η¹-C₅Me₃(CH₂)(CMe₂CH₂)}(η⁵-C₅Me₄t-Bu)] (11). In distinction, the analogous benzyl derivative TiMe₂(η⁵-C₅Me₄CH₂Ph)₂] (10) eliminates at 110 °C only one methane molecule to afford TiMe(η⁵:η¹-C₅Me₄CH₂-o-C₆H₄)(η⁵-C₅Me₄CH₂Ph)] (12) containing one phenyl group attached to titanium in o-position and one methyl group persisting on the titanium atom. This compound is stable at 150 °C for at least 3 h. The crystal structures of 5, 6, 7, and 10 were determined.