Synthesis and chemistry of cationic alkyl, alkenyl, and allyl complexes derived from the soluble, cationic hydride (C5H4Me)2Zr(H)(THF)+

Reaction of Cp' 2 Zr(CH 2 Ph) 2 (Cp'=C 5 H 4 Me) with [Cp' 2 Fe][BPh 4 ] in THF produces the cationic benzyl complex [Cp' 2 Zr(CH 2 Ph)(THF)][BPh 4 ] (4) which contains a normal η 1 -benzyl ligand. Hydrogenolysis of 4 in THF solution (1 atm of H 2 , 23 o C) produces the soluble cationic hydride complex [Cp' 2 Zr(H)-(THG)][BPh 4 ] (5). Hydride 5 reacts with olefins H 2 C=CH 2 R to yield cationic alkyl complexes [Cp' 2 Zr-(CH 2 CH 2 R)(THF)][BPh 4 ] (8a, R=H; 8b, R=Me; 8c, R=Et), with 2-butyne to give the cationic 2-butenyl complex [Cp' 2 Zr{(E)-C(Me)=C(H)(Me)}(THF)][BPh 4 ] (9), and with allene to give the allyl complex [Cp' 2 Zr(η 3 -C 3 H 5 )(THF)][BPh 4 ] (13)