Zirconium complexes with aryloxides

Treatment of a benzene solution of the sterically crowded bis(aryloxide)zirconium dibenzyl complex 5 with BIC F5)3 leads to the facile formation of the corresponding zwitterionic species 6 (Scheme 3).44 The molecular structure of 6 features a three-legged piano-stool geometry about Zr with the 7/ -bound benzyl group and the tightly associated benzyl borate anion through r/ -arcne coordination this complex is stable in solution in the presence of propylene and phenylpropyne. In contrast, treatment of the 2,6-di-Buc-substituted aryloxide dibenzyl derivative 7 with B(C6Fs)3 forms the cyclometallated compound 8 after elimination of toluene (Scheme 3) 45 compound 8 was structurally characterized. 

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