Electron-impact studies of organometallic molecules—XII: Cyclopentadienylthallium

✍ Scribed by M. I. Bruce

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1969
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 120 KB
• Volume: 2
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1076-5174
• DOI: 10.1002/oms.1210021013

✦ Synopsis

THE REMARKABLE stability of cyclopentadienylthallium, C,H,Tl, has aroused interest since the first reports of its synthesis from aqueous s o l u t i ~n . ~~~ It forms air-stable, pale yellow crystals, in contrast to the methyl-substituted compound, which is oxidised vigorously by air.4 This stability has been attributed to a high lattice energy, the compound being considered to have considerable ionic character, on the basis of infrared5 and microwave6 measurements. A crystal structure determination' showed that the solid consists of chains of alternate metal atoms and cyclopentadienyl groups. The resulting polymeric structure explains the inertness and insolubility of the compound.

Vapour phase investigations6 suggest a half-sandwich structure for the molecule, consisting of one metal atom and one cyclopentadienyl group. The mass spectrum of this compound has now been examined, and major peaks are listed in Table .