Synthesis, structural characterization and reactivity of new tin bridged ansa-bis(cyclopentadiene) compounds: X-ray crystal structures of Me2Sn(C5Me4R-1)2 (R = H, SiMe3)

The organo-tin compounds, Me2Sn(C5H4R-1)2 (R = Me (1), Pri (2), But (3), SiMe3 (4)) and Me2Sn(C5Me4R-1)2 (R = H (5), SiMe3 (6)), were prepared by the reaction of Me2SnCl2 with the lithium or sodium derivative of the corresponding cyclopentadiene. Compounds 1–6 have been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 119Sn). In addition the molecular structures of 5 and 6 were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The transmetalation reaction of 1–6 with ZrCl4 or [NbCl4(THF)2] gave the corresponding metallocene complexes in high yields.