Zirconocene dichlorides as catalysts in alkene carbo- and cyclometalation by AlEt: intermediate structures and dynamics.

A series of zirconocenes LZrCl (23 examples) were studied as catalysts in the reaction of alkenes with AlEt. The catalyst activity and reaction chemoselectivity were found to depend on the ligand structure in the complex and the nature of the solvent. The alkyl exchange in the triethylaluminum dimer was studied by NMR spectroscopy; a solvent effect on the alkyl exchange parameters was established.