1,1′-Bis(trimethylsilylseleno)ferrocene in cluster synthesis: a redox active surface on a copper–selenide core

1,1′-Bis(trimethylsilylseleno)ferrocene 1 has been prepared from the reaction of [1,1′-Fe(η5-C5H4SeLi)2 (TMEDA)] and ClSiMe3 in good yield. The reactive silyl groups on 1 are used as a driving force for the synthesis of [Cu8{Fe(η5-C5H4Se) 2}4(PPh2Et)4] 2, a cluster possessing four peripheral ferrocenyl moieties.