Piano stool complexes containing the bulky pentaphenylcyclopentadienyl(C5Ph5) ligand: Preparation, characterization and X-ray structure of C5Ph5Zr(N(CH3)2)3 (I)

Tris(dimethylamido) pentaphenylcyclopentadienyl zirconium (I) has been prepared and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The structure reflects the strong p–d amido donation with short Zr–N distances and Zr–C distances that are longer than those in the 16 electron C5Ph5(C5H5)ZrCl2. The reaction of I with (R)-(+)-sec-phenethyl alcohol to form the alkoxide complexes proceeds rapidly to the spectroscopically characterized tris((R)-(+)-sec-phenethyl alkoxide) complex, suggesting an activating effect upon alkoxide substitution.