Regioselective Homo- and Codimerization of α-Olefins Catalyzed by Bis(2,4,7-trimethylindenyl)yttrium Hydride

The novel dimeric bis(2,4,7-trimethylindenyl)yttrium hydride [(Ind‘) 2 Y(μ-H)] 2 ( 3 ) has been prepared from (Ind‘) 2 Y(μ-Cl) 2 Li(THF) 2 ( 1 ) via the alkyl complex (Ind‘) 2 YCH(SiMe 3 ) 2 ( 2 ). The hydride 3 is a catalyst that effects the regio- and stereoselective homodimerization of a range of α-olefins at 80 °C as well as head-to-head codimerization of styrene with other α-olefins.