Zirconium (alkyl)cyclopentadienyls-halides , f.e. Zr (h5-C5H4R)2Cl2, are colorless to off-white solids, sublimable, fairly stable towards air and moisture (without a base present); have good solubility in polar organic solvents (R = H), as well soluble in nhexane, benzene, toluene etc. (for R = SiMe3); have 16-valence electrons.
They can be sysnthesozed by metathesis of zirconium halides with 2 equivalents of sodium alkylcyclopentadienyls: ZrCl4 + 2 Na(C5H4R)2 -> (h5-C5H4R)2ZrCl2 + 2 NaCl
Zirconium (alkyl)cyclopentadienyls-halides Zr (h5-C5H4R)2(Hal)2 due to there volatility, are potentially applicable as precursor for the growth of Zr-containing thin films by MOCVD.