Exploring reactivity of a bis-sulfonium zirconocene-ate dimer: Synthesis of various zwitterionic phosphonium anionic zirconocene complexes

Formal [3+2] cycloaddition reactions between the bis-sulfonium zirconocene-ate dimer 1a and methylpropiolate, benzaldehyde and carbon disulfide afforded stable zwitterionic phosphonium zirconocene-ate complexes 2–4, respectively, with two orthocondensed five-membered heterocycles. X-ray crystal structure of 4 has been determined. Elemental chalcogens (S, Se, Te) gave rise also to a new variety of five-coordinate zirconium(IV) complexes (5–7) by a formal [3+1] cycloaddition reaction. In these bicyclic zirconates, sulfur is included in a five-membered ring while the second chalcogen is in a four-membered one.