Synthesis and Chemistry of Titanacyclopentane and Titanacyclopropane Rings Supported by Aryloxide Ligation

Treatment of the titanacyclopentadiene compound [Ti(OC6H3Ph2-2,6)2(C4Et4)] (3) (OC6H3Ph2-2,6 = 2,6-diphenylphenoxide) with olefins leads to the formation of a variety of stable titanacyclopentane derivatives along with one equivalent of substituted 1,3-cyclohexadiene. The structural and spectroscopic properties of the ethylene product [Ti(OC6H3Ph2-2,6)2(CH2)4] (4) show a ground state titanacyclopentane structure, but facile fragmentation on the NMR time scale to form a bis(ethylene) complex has been detected. The substituted products [Ti(OC6H3Ph2-2,6)2(C4H6R2)] (R = Me, 5; Et, 6; Ph, 7) formed from α-olefins RCHCH2 exist as a mixture of regio- and stereoisomers in hydrocarbon solution. Analysis of a crystal obtained from solutions of 7 showed a trans-2,5-diphenyl-titanacyclopentane ring to be present in the solid state. Alternative routes to the titanacyclopentane compounds involve treatment of the dichlorides [Ti(OC6H3Ph2-2,6)2Cl2] (1) or [Ti(OC6HPh4-2,3,5,6)2Cl2] (2) with either sodium amalgam (2 Na per...