Characterization of Bis[chloridodi(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium] oxide, a compound containing the Zr-O-Zr linkage

Abstract

The previously reported reaction of dichloridodi(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium [(C₅H₅)₂ZrCl₂] with aniline or other bases has been shown to involve water as a reactant, with formation of the oxygen-bridged bis[chloridodi(cyclopentadienyl)- zirconium] oxide, [(C₅H₅),ZrCl]₂O, containing the linkage Zr-0-Zr. The compound is diamagnetic, stable to air and water, and can be sublimed in a vacuum at 200-220°. The crystals are monoclinic, with four molecules per unit cell. The structure was established by mass, infrared, near infrared, and proton magnetic resonance spectral examination, and by reaction of the compound with deuterium-labelled and tritium-labelled hydrogen chloride to regenerate unlabelled dichloridodi(cyclopentadienyl)-zirconium.