Demystifying Cp2Ti(H)Cl and Its Enigmatic Role in the Reactions of Epoxides with Cp2TiCl

The role of Cp 2 Ti(H)Cl in the reactions of Cp 2 TiCl with trisubstituted epoxides has been investigated in a combined experimental and computational study. Although Cp 2 Ti(H)Cl has generally been regarded as a robust species, its decomposition to Cp 2 TiCl and molecular hydrogen was found to be exothermic (Δ G = −11 kcal/mol when the effects of THF solvation are considered). In laboratory studies, Cp 2 Ti(H)Cl was generated using the reaction of 1,2-epoxy-1-methylcyclohexane with Cp 2 TiCl as a model. Rapid evolution of hydrogen gas was demonstrated, indicating that Cp 2 Ti(H)Cl is indeed a thermally unstable molecule, which undergoes intermolecular reductive elimination of hydrogen under the reaction conditions. The stoichiometry of the reaction (Cp 2 TiCl:epoxide = 1:1) and the quantity of hydrogen produced (1 mol per 2 mol of epoxide) is consistent with this assertion. The diminished yield of allylic alcohol from these reactions under the conditions of protic versus aprotic catalysis can be understood in terms of the predominant titanium(III) present in solution. Under the conditions of protic catalysis, Cp 2 TiCl complexes with collidine hydrochloride and the titanium(III) center is less available for “cross-disproportionation” with carbon-centered radicals; this leads to byproducts from radical capture by hydrogen atom transfer, resulting in a saturated alcohol.