Abstract

In the structure of bis[(3a,4,5,6,6a-?)-1-hydropentalenyl]iron, [Fe(C8H7)2], the two pentalene ligands are parallel. The molecules are packed in chains along the a axis and there are no significant intermolecular interactions. The compound shows disorder at the iron position with a 93.3% major and a 6.7% minor component. The structure of the predominant component has been determined. In addition, the double bond in one pentalene ligand is disordered. This confirms the results of a previous spectroscopic 1H NMR study [Katz & Rosenberger (1963). J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85, 2030-2031].