Bis(alkylcyclopentadienyl)cadmium Complexes and Alkylcyclopentadienyl(mesityl)cadmium: Synthesis and Structure

Cadmium diiodide tetrahydrofuran adduct was prepared from the elements in tetrahydrofuran and
converted to bis(alkylcyclopentadienyl)cadmium complexes with sodium tetraisopropylcyclopentadienide
or sodium 1,2,4-tri(tert-butyl)cyclopentadienide. Both products are fluxional in solution, and for bis{tri(tert-butyl)cyclopentadienyl}cadmium η1,η1-bonding has been observed in the solid state. With 1 equiv
each of sodium 1,2,4-tri(tert-butyl)cyclopentadienide and mesitylmagnesium bromide the aryl complex
mesityl{tri(tert-butyl)cyclopentadienyl}cadmium could be obtained from cadmium diiodide in moderate
yield.