(Cyclopentadienyl)titanium trichloride

titanium trichloride is an organotitanium compound with the formula TiCl. It is a moisture sensitive orange solid. The compound adopts a piano stool geometry.

Preparation and reactions

is prepared by the reaction of titanocene dichloride and titanium tetrachloride:
The complex is electrophilic, readily forming alkoxide complexes upon treatment with alcohols.
Reduction of titanium trichloride with zinc powder gives the polymeric Ti derivative titanium dichloride:
A related reduction can be effected with cobaltocene:
Other evidence for the Lewis acidity of the trichloride is the ready formation of adducts with phosphine ligands: