m -Terphenyl derivative of titanium(III): Cp2TiR (Cp=C5H5; R =2,6-(4-MeC6H4)2C6H3)

The title compound, Cp₂TiR (Cp=C₅H₅; R=2,6-(4-MeC₆H₄)₂C₆H₃), 1, was prepared by reaction of RLi with [Cp₂TiCl]₂. Compound 1 was characterized by elemental analysis, EPR, and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with the following unit cell dimensions: a=11.1466(7) Å, b=16.4429(11) Å, c=13.0786(8) Å; b=106.2040(10)^°;V=2301.9(3) ų. The EPR spectrum of 1 displays two signals, a high field signal at g=1.979 and a lower field signal at g=1.959. Significantly, 1 is a sterically encumbered m-terphenyl-stabilized trivalent titanocene paramagnetic complex and may be a practical one-electron reducing reagent.