HYDROGEN-EXCHANGE DURING THE THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OF DICYCLOPENTADIENYLDIMETHYLTITANIUM(IV)

A previous suggestion that cyclopentadienyl rings exchange hydrogens with methyl groups during the thermal decomposition of (C5H5)2Ti(CH3)2 is supported by additional studies. The thermal decomposition is found to proceed in two stages. The first involves an intramolecular α-elimination yielding methane and a black precipitate. In the second stage, this process is catalyzed, but in addition ring attack becomes important and slow exchange of ring and methyl hydrogens occurs. All stage two processes occur out of solution. Solid state decompositions appear to follow a closely similar path at comparable temperatures, as do photodecompositions. © 1979.