Thermolysis of bis(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)-stabilized
titanium(III) compounds (C5HMe4)2TiR (R = Me (2), Ph
(3)) yields, in marked contrast with the
bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) analog, the dimeric product
[(C5HMe4)(μ-η1:η5-C5Me4)Ti]2
(4), with a bridging
metalated tetramethylcyclopentadienyl ligand. The hydride
(C5HMe4)2TiH
(5), synthesized
by hydrogenolysis of 2 or 3, reacts with
N2 to form the dinuclear Ti(II) dinitrogen
compound
[(C5HMe4)2Ti]2N2
(8). Under a dynamic vacuum, the dinitrogen complex
8 loses the N2 ligand
to give the titanocene
(C5HMe4)2Ti
(10). The molecular structures of both 4 and
8 were
determined by X-ray diffraction methods.