Vanadocene, bis(η5-cyclopentadienyl) vanadium, is the organometallic compound with the formula V(C5H5)2, commonly abbreviated Cp2V. It is a violet crystalline, paramagnetic solid. Vanadocene has relatively limited practical use, but it has been extensively studied.
Structure and bonding
V(C5H5)2 is a metallocene, a class of organometallic compounds that typically have a metal ion sandwiched between two cyclopentadienyl rings. In the solid state, the molecule has D5dsymmetry. The vanadium(II) center resides equidistant between the center of the two cyclopentadienyl rings at a crystallographic center of inversion. The average V-C bond distance is 226 pm.[1] The Cp rings of vanadocene are dynamically disordered at temperatures above 170 K and are only fully ordered at 108 K.
Preparation
Vanadocene was first prepared in 1954 by Birmingham, Fischer, and Wilkinson via a reduction of vanadocene dichloride with aluminum hydride, after which vanadocene was sublimed in vacuum at 100 ˚C.[2] A modern synthesis of vanadocene that allows production in higher quantities requires treating [V2Cl3(THF)6]2[Zn2Cl6] with cyclopentadienylsodium.[3]
2 [V2Cl3(THF)6]2[Zn2Cl6] + 8 NaCp + THF → 4 Cp2V
Properties
Vanadocene is a reactive molecule. As it only has 15 valence electrons available, it readily reacts with many ligands. With alkynes, for example, it reacts to yield the corresponding vanadium-cyclopropene complexes.[4]
One reaction involves carbon monoxide, leading to an ionic vanadocene derivative when performed in inert atmosphere:
Cp2V + V(CO)6 → [Cp2V(CO)2][V(CO)6]
Vanadocene is readily oxidized to the monocation when treated with a ferrocenium salt in toluene.[5]
These monocations are extremely air-sensitive and have a redox potential of -1.10 V.[5]
Vanadocene reacts with high pressures of carbon monoxide to give CpV(CO)4.[6]
References
^Robin D. Rogers; Jerry L. Atwood; Don Foust & Marvin D. Rausch (1981). "Crystal Structure of Vanadocene". Journal of Crystal and Molecular Structure. 11 (5–6): 183–188. doi:10.1007/BF01210393. S2CID93048446.
^ abCalderazzo, Fausto, Isabella Ferri, Guido Pampaloni, and Ulli Englert (1999). "Oxidation Products of Vanadocene and of Its Permethylated Analogue, Including the Isolation and the Reactivity of the Unsolvated [VCp]Cation". Organometallics. 18 (13): 2452–2458. doi:10.1021/om9809320.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)