Synthesis of the sterically constrained ligand precursor cyclopentadienyl-2,6-diphenylbenzene and structure of [(2,6-Ph2–C6H3-η5-C5H4)Zr(NEt2)3]

A Pd-catalysed Stille coupling of 2,6-diphenyliodobenzene with tributylcyclopentadienyltin gave the sterically constrained ligand precursor cyclopentadienyl-2,6-diphenylbenzene (1). Treatment of this precursor with tetrakis(diethylamido)zirconium(IV) gave the three-legged piano-stool complex [(2,6-Ph2–C6H3-η5-C5H4)Zr(NEt2)3] (2). Complex 2 was characterised by 1H- and 13C{1H}-NMR spectroscopy as well as by X-ray crystallography which showed significant distortions of the three-legged piano-stool geometry as a result of steric interactions with the bulky aryl substituent.