Cerocene is a organometallic complex with the chemical formula Ce(C8H8)2 (Ce(cot)2). It is a sandwich compound consisting of a central cerium atom and two cyclooctatetraenide rings.
Preparation
Cerocene can be prepared by reducing cerium(III) di-cyclooctatraene anion salts:
Ce(C8H8)2K → Ce(C8H8)2 + K+
Chemical properties
Cerocene decomposes when exposed to water or oxygen to yield non-stoichiometric cerium-oxides and cyclooctratraene derivitives.
It undergoes a disproportionation, leading to an equilibrium between cerocene and a double-decker structure containing two cerium atoms: 2 Ce(C8H8)2 Ce2(C8H8)3 + C8H8
Although the cyclooctatetraenide ligand is usually considered a dianion and therefore cerocene is identified as a Ce(IV) complex, theoretical and experimental analysis of the compound indicates that is more correctly described containing a Ce(III) atom.
Related compounds
Cerocene is a known precursor for uranocene, U(C8H8)2:
Ce(C8H8)2 + UCl3 U(C8H8)2 + CeCl3
Cerocene is commonly confused with the compound tris(cyclopentadienyl)cerium.
References