X-ray crystal structure of (eta(5)-pentaphenylcyclopentadienyl)[1-(eta(5/6)-phenyl)-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylcyclopentadienyl]iron(II), [Fe(eta(5)-C(5)Ph(5))[(eta(5/6)-C(6)H(5))C(5)Ph(4)]], a linkage isomer of decaphenylferrocene

Very dark blue prismatic crystals of Fe(eta(5)-C(5)Ph(5))(eta(5/6)-C(6)H(5))(C(5)Ph(4))]], the linkage isomer of decaphenylferrocene, were grown from (3:1 v/v) hexane/ethyl acetate and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (space group P2(1)/n, R1(F) 0.0404). The iron atom is coordinated to two C(5)Ph(5) ligands: one with an eta(5)-C(5)-configuration and the other with a coordinated arene configuration. The phenyl groups of the (eta(5)-C(5)Ph(5)) ligand are oriented in a "paddle-wheel" arrangement about the C(5) ring, with which four of them make an average angle of approximately 53 degrees, the other, an angle of approximately 42 degrees. The coordinated C(6)H(5) ring of the other ligand is inclined at only approximately 5 degrees to the uncoordinated C(5) ring, with which three of the other four phenyl rings make an average angle of approximately 64 degrees, and the other (opposite the coordinated arene ring), an angle of 38 degrees.