Reaction of Alkenylzirconocenes with Dialkylzirconocenes:  Unexpected Formation of Bimetallic (μ-Alkynyl)zirconocene Complexes

Reaction of alkenylzirconocenes Cp₂ZrX(MeCCH₂) (X = Cl, Br) with dialkylzirconocenes Cp₂ZrR₂ (R = Me, Et, Bu) yielded the unexpected bimetallic zirconocene complexes Cp₂Zr(μ-X)(μ-C⋮CCH₃)ZrCp₂ (X = Cl, Br). Its structure (X = Cl) was determined by X-ray crystallography. The monitoring of the reaction of Cp₂ZrBu₂ with Cp₂ZrBr(MeCCH₂) revealed that the first step of this reaction was an exchange reaction of the Bu and Br groups.