SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND CARBONYLATION OF THE ASYMMETRIC MONO-RING-FUNCTIONALIZED ZIRCONOCENES, (ETA(5)-C5H5)(ETA(5)-C5H4)P(C6H5)(2))ZR(CH3)X (X=CH3, CL)

The preparation of alkyl, ring-functionalized zirconocenes, (eta(5)-C5H5)(eta(5)-C5H4)P(C6H5)(2))Zr(CH3)X(X = CH3 (1), X = CI (2)) is described. These compounds insert one molecule of CO to give products which interconvert between an acyl complex and a phosphonium alkoxide at ambient temperatures. The position of equilibrium between the acyl and phosphonium alkoxide complexes depends on the identity of X.