Reactions of transition metal compounds with macrocyclic alkadiynes : II. Cyclopentadienylnickel and dicobalt hexacarbonyl complexes retaining the macrocyclic alkadiyne structure unit

The macrocyclic alkadiynes 1,7-cyclododecadiyne, 1,7-cyclotridecadiyne, 1,7-cyclotetradecadiyne, 1,8-cyclotetradecadiyne, and 1,8-cyclopentadecadiyne react with [C₅H₅NiCO]₂ in boiling benzene to give the dark green tetrametallic derivatives (alkadiyne) (NiC₅H₅)₄ and with Co₂(CO)₈ in pentane at room temperature to give the dark red tetrametallic derivatives (alkadiyne)[Co₂(CO)₆]₂. The reactions of 1,7-cyclododecadiyne with [C₅H₅NiCO]₂ and Co₂(CO)₈ can also be made to give the crystalline bimetallic derivatives 1,7-C₁₂H₁₆(NiC₅H₅)₂ and 1,7-C₁₂H₁₆Co₂(CO)₆. The macrocyclic alkadiyne ring system is retained in all of these new complexes.