Synthesis and mass spectra of derivatives of (η 5-cyclopentadienyl)(η 4-cyclopentadiene)cobalt

Abstract

For the first time ever the interaction of cobaltocene with organocadmium compounds has been shown to be a convenient route to the derivatives of (η 5-cyclopentadienyl)(η 4-cyclopentadiene)cobalt. The reaction of Cp 2Co with R 2Cd (R = Me, Et, n-Pr, Ph, GeEt 3, CH 2SiMe 3) gave (η 5-Cp)(η 4-CpR)Co, and metallic cadmium and R-radical conversion products would be isolated. (η 5-Cp)(η 4-CpR)Co decomposes in three directions during electron impact: (i) loss of R substituents, (ii) the loss of endo-hydrogen and (iii) migration of endo-hydrogen to Cp ligand and subsequent cleavage of the CoC 5H 4R (or CoC 5H 6) bond.