Synthesis and characterization of Zr(IV) and Y(III) complexes with monocyclopentadienyl ligands containing an additional site tethered by a coordinating 2,6-pyridine bridge. X-ray crystal structures of the zirconium complexes

A new monocyclopentadienyl ligand containing an additional site tethered by a coordinating 2,6-pyridine unit has been prepared, rac-2-(1′-hydroxy-2′,2′-dimethylpropyl)-6-(1″,1″-dimethyl-cyclopentadienylmethyl) pyridine dilithium salt, LLi₂ (rac-4) that is analogous to the ligands present in CGC. After reacting the dilithium salt of the ligand with ZrCl₄ in a molar ratio of 1:1 in THF the complex LZrCl₂·THF (rac-5) was obtained which forms an insoluble oligomeric species after the loss of THF upon purification. From the mater liquor two crystalline species of the formula LHZrCl₃ (rac-6) and LH₂ZrCl₄·THF (rac-7) were isolated, whose X-ray crystal structures are reported. The reaction of LLi₂ with Y(OTf)₃ afforded the probably dimeric species LYOTf]₂ (rac-8) from which the complex LY(CH₂Si(CH₃)₃)]₂ (rac-9) was obtained after reaction with LiCH₂Si(CH₃)₃.