Reactions of Imines with Azazirconacyclobutenes and Generation of Electron-Deficient Imidozirconocene Complexes

Electron-deficient imines are shown to insert
into the zirconium−carbon bond of azazirconacyclobutenes
to generate new six-membered ring metallacycles. On
heating, these expanded zirconacycles undergo a retro-[4 + 2] cycloaddition to generate α,β-unsaturated imines
in excellent yields and novel, fully characterized electron-deficient imidozirconocene complexes.