Charge-compensated Zn metallocenes with σ-/π-chelating carboranyl ligands for the formation of constrained geometry Ru(II) and Ni(II) complexes

Charge-compensated zinc metallocenes of types [(η3-C2B9H10)2Zn][(η1-NMe2)ZnEt]2 (5) and [{η3-(Me)C2B9H9}2Zn][(η1-NMe2)ZnEt]2 (6) were produced by reacting σ-/π-chelating aminoalkyl dicarbollides, 7-Me2N(H)CH2-7,8-C2B9H11 (1) and 7-Me2N(H)CH2-8-Me-7,8-C2B9H10 (2), with diethylzinc. Zincocene 5 proved to be an excellent synthon for the formation of dicarbollide-based σ-/π-type constrained Ru and Ni complexes.