A bulky silyl shift-directed synthesis of a silyl-linked amidinate-amidine and its Zr(IV) complex.

A novel silyl-linked amidinate-amidine monoanionic ligand 3 was synthesized by double additions of PhCN starting from silyl-linked bis(amino) monoanion 2, which underwent an intramolecular Li/H metathesis and double silyl shift. The related Zr(IV) complex 4 was prepared and confirmed by X-ray diffraction revealing a structural rearrangement from its precursor. The mechanisms for the reaction processes have been proposed. Each of compounds 2, 3 and 4 was characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction. Complex 4 exhibited moderate activity for ethylene polymerization in the presence of methylalumoxane (MAO).