Syntheses and characterization of alkylzirconium complexes containing two silanolato ligands with a bowl-shaped framework

The reaction of a bowl-type silanol with tetrabenzylzirconium yielded a dibenzylbis(silanolato)zirconium complex selectively, which is an intriguing species in connection to the chemistry of silica-supported ZrR4 olefin polymerization catalysts. Treatment of this neutral complex with B(C6F5)3 afforded the corresponding cationic monobenzyl complex, presenting the first example of a cationic zirconium complex containing a silanolato ligand. The structures of both complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography.

Graphical abstractThe first example of a cationic zirconium complex containing a silanolato ligand, [(Ar3SiO)2ZrBn]+[BnB(C6F5)3]−, was synthesized by abstraction of a benzyl group from a neutral dibenzylbis(silanolato)zirconium complex containing bulky bowl-shaped silanolato ligands. Their structures have been characterized by X-ray crystallography.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide