Reactions of a Bis(pentalene)dititanium complex with alkenes; the molecular structure of the butadiene complex [Ti2(µ: η5,η5-Pn††)2(μ: η2,η2-s-trans-C4H6)] (Pn†† = 1,4-(SiiPr3)2-C8H4)

Reaction of the syn-bimetallic complex (1) with 1,3-butadiene results in the formation of (2), featuring an essentially planar butadiene ligand. Reaction of (1) with propene affords the “tuck-over” alkene π-complex (3) with concurrent loss of propane; kinetic studies suggest involvement of a Ti-H(iPr) agostic interaction in the latter reaction.