π-Indenyl substituted zirconium compounds containing terminal bonded phosphanylphosphido ligands [Ind2Zr(Cl){(Me3Si)P-PR2-κP1}]. Synthesis, X-ray analysis and NMR studies

Dichloro-bis(indenyl)zirconium(IV) reacts with lithium derivatives of diphosphanes R2P-P(SiMe3)Li (R = Bu-t, Et2N, (Pr2N)-Pr-i) to form complexes with terminal phosphanylphosphido ligands - [Ind(2)Zr(Cl){(PSiMe3)P-PR2-kappa P-1}]. These compounds are extremely sensitive towards moisture and oxygen. The solid state structures of these complexes were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The nitrogen bearing groups R (Et2N or (Pr2N)-Pr-i) significantly lengthen the P-P distances in the related complexes and change the geometry around the phosphido phosphorus in such a way that it becomes less planar. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.