last updated Friday, February 27, 2004

Meeting 15 (Ferrocene)

ATTN: answers to the below questions are due at the start of your lab period; these answers should be part of your pre-lab write-up

Important Announcements:

1. Final exam: March 19, 2004, 3-6 pm, room to be announced.

2. Review session: to be announced (probably March 16 or 17th in the early evening hours)

3. Proposal: due on March 5, 2004 at 5 pm in YH1217 (If you have problems please see me asap!)

4. Oral Presentation: time and location to be assigned (group presentation, but everybody has to speak!)

Homework assignments

1. Ferrocene is very stable, while cobaltocene is very air sensitive.

a. Rationalize the differences in reactivity of the two metallocenes.

b. What is formed in the reaction of cobaltocene with air?

2. Most metals form different cyclopentadienyl complexes. Based on its structure, explain why Ferrocene dissolves very well in petroleum ether, but not well in DMSO.

3. When handling KCp, the presence of water and air should be minimized. Why?

4. Cyclopentadiene is not commercially available.

a. How is it obtained in the lab?

b. Which precautions have to be taken when obtaining the monomer?

5. Referring to the following reaction, answer the following questions

Ni(NH₃)₆Cl₂ + 2 NaCp ----> NiCp₂ + 2 NaCl + 6 NH₃

a. Suggest two good solvents for this reaction. Rationalize your choice.

b. What are the driving forces for the reaction?

c. Which color does the product have?