The disclosure provides methodology for the synthesis of mono-alkylated cyclopentadiene structures, which can be obtained via fulvene intermediates. In one embodiment, the cyclopentadiene ring is substituted with a trialkylsilyl moiety, which enables the further reaction with certain metal halides to form metal adducts. For example, the monoalkyl cyclopentadienes substituted with a trimethylsilyl group can be reacted with TiCl4 to provide R*CpTiCl3 complexes, wherein R* is a group of the formula




wherein R1 and R2 are as defined herein.