title: Ring-closing metathesis of sterically congested functionalized zirconocenes-ethene polymerization catalysts derived from related bridged and open metallocenes.
abstract: Condensation of allylcyclopentadiene 1 with acetone in the presence of pyrrolidine gave 2-allyl-6,6-dimethylfulvene (2). Methyllithium addition gave lithium 1-allyl-3-tert-butylcyclopentadienide (3). Transmetallation with 0.5 equiv. of ZrCl4 yielded the respective functionalized zirconocene dichloride complexes meso-4 and rac-4, which were both isolated isomerically pure. With 10 mol% of [Cl2(PCy3)2Ru=CHPh] the rac-4 diastereoisomer underwent a clean intramolecular ring-closing olefin metathesis reaction to yield the ansa-zirconocene complex rac-6. The complexes meso-4, rac-4 and rac-6 were characterized by X-ray diffraction. Treatment of the open metallocenes meso-4 and rac-4, respectively, with excess methylalumoxane gave rather active ethene polymerization catalysts. The corresponding catalyst derived from the conformationally restricted bulky ansa-metallocene rac-6 is markedly less active.
authors.affiliation: Organisch-Chemisches Institut der Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 40, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Tülay Asli
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Tumay
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kehr
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fröhlich
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erker