Cyclization of adiponitrile in the reaction with diphenylzirconocene

Intramolecular cyclization of adiponitrile with the formation of an amidinate functional group in zirconium coordination sphere was found. The obtained complex can be protolyzed with HCl in dioxane to afford a new representative of amidines, namely, 7-phenyl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2H-azepin-2- imine in hydrochloride form.