Formation of a spiro compound via coupling of a cyclopentadienyl ligand with a diene moiety of titanacyclopentadiene

The treatment of titanacyclopentadienes with bismuth(iii) chloride gave spiro compounds in moderate yields. Two carbon atoms of the diene moiety of the titanacyclopentadiene were connected to one carbon atom of the Cp ligand. This is in sharp contrast to the formation of dihydroindene derivatives, where two carbon-carbon bonds were formed between the diene moiety and the adjacent two carbon atoms of the Cp ligand.