Cyclopentadienyl compounds with nitrogen donors in the side-chain

The coordination chemistry of cyclopentadienyl ligands bearing either a dimethylaminoethyl side-chain or a pendant pyridyl group is described. The influence of these N donor functionalities on the structure and the physical as well as chemical properties of relevant metal complexes is discussed. In several cases, a relatively weak intramolecular coordination of the pendant amine is found; the hemilabile coordination profile of the N functionalised cyclopentadienyl ligands towards d-block elements may prove useful for the development of single-component catalysts.