Reactions of Zirconocene 2-Vinylpyridine Complexes with Diisobutylaluminum Hydride and Fluoride

In reactions of the zirconocene 2-vinylpyridine
complex Cp2Zr(2-vipy) (1) with iBu2AlH and iBu2AlF the
isostructural complexes [Cp2Zr(μ-η1:η2-2-CH2CH−C5H4N)(μ-H)][iBu2Al] (3) and [Cp2Zr(μ-η1:η2-2-CH2CH−C5H4N)(μ-F)][iBu2Al] (5) were formed. These complexes can serve
as models for the transfer of fluorine from zirconium to
aluminum (Zr−F with Al−H to Zr−H and Al−F) found
in the reaction of rac-(ebthi)ZrF2 with iBu2AlH to form
the dimeric complex [rac-(ebthi)ZrH(μ-H)]2 (6). The
compounds are important in obtaining an understanding of the activation of zirconocene fluoro complexes by
iBu3Al and of the role of iBu2AlH in activation processes
for the catalytic polymerization of olefins.