Well-Defined Single-Site Monohydride Silica-Supported Zirconium from Azazirconacyclopropane

The silica‐supported azazirconacyclopropane SiOZr(HNMe2)(η2‐NMeCH2)(NMe2) (1) leads exclusively under hydrogenolysis conditions (H2, 150 °C) to the single‐site monopodal monohydride silica‐supported zirconium species SiOZr(HNMe2)(NMe2)2H (2). Reactivity studies by contacting compound 2 with ethylene, hydrogen/ethylene, propene, or hydrogen/propene, at a temperature of 200 °C revealed alkene hydrogenation. SiO2‐supported Zr catalyst: The synthesis of the silica‐supported azazirconacyclopropane 1 is reported. The application of this compound as well as of its hydrogenated counterpart 2 (see scheme) as catalyst for the hydrogenation of olefins has also been investigated, showing that compound 2 is an efficient catalyst for the conversion of short‐chain olefins.