Cyclopentadienyltungsten tricarbonyl dimer explained

Cyclopentadienyltungsten tricarbonyl dimer is the organotungsten compound with the formula Cp₂W₂(CO)₆, where Cp is C₅H₅. A dark red crystalline solid, it is the subject of research, although it has no or few practical uses.

Structure and synthesis

The molecule exists in two rotamers, gauche and anti.^[1] The six CO ligands are terminal, and the W-W bond distance is 3.222 Å.^[2] The compound is prepared by treatment of tungsten hexacarbonyl with sodium cyclopentadienide followed by oxidation of the resulting NaW(CO)₃(C₅H₅).^[3]

Related compounds

• Cyclopentadienylmolybdenum tricarbonyl dimer
• Cyclopentadienylchromium tricarbonyl dimer

References

1. Web site: Brian Mann . Fluxionality of Cp₂Mo₂(CO)₆ . . 1997-01-06.
2. . Molecular Structures and Barriers to Internal Rotation in Bis(η5 -cyclopentadienyl)hexacarbonylditungsten and Its Molybdenum Analog . . 1974 . 13 . 1086–1090 . 10.1021/ic50135a015 . 5. free .
3. A. R.. Manning. Paul. Hacket . Ralph. Birdwhistell. 1990 . Hexacarbonylbis(η⁵-Cyclopentadienyl)Dichromium, Molybdenum, and Tungsten and their Analogs, M₂(η⁵-C₅H₄R)₂(CO)₆ (M = Cr, Mo, and W; R = H, Me or PhCH₂) . . 28 . 148–149 . 10.1002/9780470132593.ch39. 9780470132593.