Bis(η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)cobalt(II)

The crystal structure of the title compound, decamethylcobaltocene, [Co(C10H15)2], has been determined. High-quality single crystals were grown from a cold saturated hexamethyldisiloxane solution. The structure is related to the manganese and iron analogs. The molecule has D 5d symmetry, with the Co atom in a crystallographic 2/m position. The cobalt–centroid(C5) distance is 1.71Å and the centroid(C5)–Co–centroid(C5) angle is 180°, by symmetry.