Bis(2,4,7‐tri­methyl­indenyl)­cobalt(II) and rac‐2,2′,4,4′,7,7′‐hexamethyl‐1,1′‐biindene

The crystal and molecular structures of bis(η⁵‐2,4,7‐tri­methyl­indenyl)­cobalt(II), Co(C₁₂H₁₃)₂], (I), and rac‐2,2′,4,4′,7,7′‐hexamethyl‐1,1′‐biindene, C₂₄H₂₆, (II), are reported. In the crystal structure of (I), the Co atom lies on an inversion centre and the structure represents the first example of a bis(indenyl)cobalt complex exhibiting an eclipsed indenyl conformation. The (1R,1′R) and (1S,1′S) enantiomers of the three possible stereoisomers of (II), which form as by‐products in the synthesis of (I), cocrystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c. In the unit cell of (II), alternating (1R,1′R) and (1S,1′S) enantiomers pack in non‐bonded rows along the a axis, with the planes of the indenyl groups parallel to each other and separated by 3.62 and 3.69 Å.