chromocene

Chromocene is the organochromium compound with the formula [Cr(C5H5)2]. Like structurally related metallocenes, chromocene readily sublimes in a vacuum and is soluble in non-polar organic solvents. It is more formally known as bis(η5-cyclopentadienyl)chromium(II).

==Synthesis== thumb|left|upright|Red crystals of chromocene under inert atmosphere in a schlenk flask Ernst Otto Fischer, who shared the 1973 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work on sandwich compounds, first described the synthesis of chromocene. One simple method of preparation involves the reaction of chromium(II) chloride with sodium cyclopentadienide: CrCl2 + 2 NaC5H5 → Cr(C5H5)2 + 2 NaCl Such syntheses are typically conducted in tetrahydrofuran. Decamethylchromocene, Cr[C5(CH3)5]2, can be prepared analogously from LiC5(CH3)5. Chromocene can also be prepared from chromium(III) chloride in a redox process: 2 CrCl3 + 6 NaC5H5 → 2 Cr(C5H5)2 + C10H10 + 6 NaCl