Decamethyldizincocene, a Stable Compound of Zn(I) with a Zn-Zn Bond

Unlike mercury, which has an extensive +1 oxidation state chemistry, zinc usually adopts the +2 oxidation state. Decamethyldizincocene, Zn2(η5-C5Me5)2, an organometallic compound of Zn(I) formally derived from the dimetallic [Zn–Zn]2+ unit, has been isolated from the low-temperature (–10°C) reaction of Zn(C5Me5)2 and Zn(C2H5)2 in diethyl ether. X-ray studies show that it contains two eclipsed Zn(η5-C5Me5) fragments with a Zn–Zn distance (± standard deviation) of 2.305(±3) angstroms, indicative of a metal-metal bonding interaction.