Formation of Carbon–carbon Double Bond between Cp Ligand and Alkenyl Carbon of Titanacyclopentenes

Reactions of bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanacyclopentenes with BiI3 gave coupling products of one Cp ligand and the alkenyl carbons in moderate yields. An NMR study of the tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) adduct of the product showed that the coupled Cp ring and the alkenyl carbons were connected by one carbon–carbon double bond. This is in sharp contrast to coupling reactions of one Cp ligand with the diene moiety in bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanacyclopentadienes, where two carbon–carbon single bonds were formed between those two components to give dihydroindenes or spiro compounds.