Cationic Ethylzinc Compound: A Benzene Complex with Catalytic Activity in Hydroamination and Hydrosilylation Reactions

The tight ion pair [EtZn­(η³-C₆H₆)]­[CHB₁₁Cl₁₁]·C₆H₆ (1·C₆H₆) was obtained through β-hydrogen abstraction and concomitant ethene elimination from Et₂Zn with the trityl salt [Ph₃C]­[CHB₁₁Cl₁₁]. This ionlike species shows catalytic activity in hydrosilylation and intramolecular hydroamination reactions. The amine adduct {CH₂CHCH₂C­(Ph₂)­CH₂NH₂}₃ZnCB₁₁Cl₁₁ (3), which features a rare transition metal–carborane σ bond, was isolated from a hydroamination experiment.