Intramolecular activation of a pendant nitrile group in Ti and Zr metallocene complexes

Pendant nitrile moiety in a bent zirconocene was activated upon reduction of the metal to effect a cleavage of the C-CN bond. ion of one chloride ligand in metallocenes (M = Ti, Zr) led to a formation of cationic species, which were further hydrolysed to cationic amide complexes.