Synthesis of a zirconium sandwich complex and crystallographic characterization of its adduct with tetrahydrofuran

Reductive elimination of alkane from a silylated bis-indenyl zirconium isobutyl hydride affords a zirconium sandwich complex with an unusual η⁶ indenyl ligand. Crystallographic characterization of its adduct with tetrahydrofuran has been achieved and reveals significant localization in the six-membered ring. Complexation of more potent ligands such as carbon monoxide and diphenylacetylene are effective in promoting haptotropic rearrangement of the η⁶ indenyl ligand and provides familiar bent zirconocene derivatives. The zirconium sandwich compound also undergoes oxidative addition of carbon-hydrogen bonds of pyridyl ligands, resulting in a crystallographically characterized dimethylamino pyridyl hydride complex of zirconium.