Reactions of a methylzirconocene cation with phosphinoalkynes: an alternative pathway for generating Cp2Zr(II) systems

A methylzirconocene cation (with a [B(C6F5)(4)](-) counterion) transfers a methyl cation equivalent to diphenylphosphinoalkynes to generate (eta 2-alkyne)ZrCp2 complexes bearing the [RC CPPh2Me](+) ligand. Two examples of the PMe3 ligand stabilized [(Me3P)Cp2Zr(eta(2)-RC CPPh2Me)(+)][B(C6F5)(4)(-)] salts were characterized by X-ray diffraction.