A doubly bridged isodicyclopentadienyl zirconium complex: bis[N-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-N-[(eta5-isodicyclopentadien-2-yl)dimethylsilyl]amido-kappaN]zirconium(II) diethyl ether solvate.

Transmetallation of the dilithium salt of (3,5-dimethyphenylamino)(isodicyclopentadienyl)dimethylsilane by treatment with zirconium tetrachloride in a 2:1 ratio leads to the substitution of all four chloride ligands. With the applied stoichiometry, the title complex, [Zr(C(20)H(25)NSi)(2)].C(4)H(10)O, was obtained and crystallized from diethyl ether. X-ray diffraction characterization showed that both isodicyclopentadienyl ligands (alternatively called 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-4,7-methano-1H-indene) are complexed to the metal on their exo face in a completely stereoselective manner and that they are eta(5)-bonded to the Zr atom.