Tris(cyclopentadienyl)cerium is a metal organic compound of cerium with the chemical formula Ce(C5H5)3. It and the other cyclopentadiene compounds of the lanthanide metals are different from the cyclopentadienyl complexes of general transition metals and is considered to be ionically bonded.
Preparation
Tris(cyclopentadienyl)cerium can be obtained by reacting anhydrous cerium chloride and sodium cyclopentadienide in a tetrahydrofuran medium:
3C5H5Na + CeCl3 → (C5H5)3Ce+ 3 NaCl
Chemical properties
Tris(cyclopentadienyl)cerium decomposes when exposed to water to produce cerium(III) hydroxide and cyclopentadiene.
Related compounds
There are literature reports on the synthesis and properties任镜清, 徐光宪. 四茂铈(Ce(C5H5)4)的电子结构和化学键[J]. 科学通报, 1985(19):23-28. of the tetravalent cerium compound Ce(C5H5)4, but it has been pointed out that the synthesis method is not credible.
References