The action of alcohols on zirconium tetrachloride and zirconium chloride alkoxides

Abstract

The reactions of zirconium tetrachloride and of zirconium chloride alkoxides with various alcohols have been examined. From the tetrachloride and methanol the equimolar mixture of ZrCl₂(Ome).MeOH and ZrCl₂(OMe)₂ was obtained. Alcohol interchange occurs between zirconium dichloride dialkoxides or zirconium chloride trialkoxides and primary or secondary alcohols and is a convenient means for preparing zirconium chloride alkoxides. The new compounds ZrCl(Ome)₃ and ZrCl₂(OMe)₂ were thus prepared. With tertiary alcohols and ZrCl(OPrⁱ)₃.PrⁱOH the alcohol interchange was accompanied by a second reaction which formed alkyl halide, olefin and water, but the new chloride tri-tert.amyloxide of zirconium could be prepared by a modified procedure. The nature of the second reaction was investigated and a mechanism is proposed.