THE TRIS(CYCLOPENTADIENYL)METHYLSILANE TR IANION - A NEW LIGAND SYSTEM AND COMPLEX-FORMATION WITH RHODIUM

Starting from MeSiCl3 the title compound was synthesized by two steps as the virtually insoluble trithallium salt (1). Reaction of 1 with [( C2H4)(2)RhCl](2) in pentane gives {MeSi[C5H4Rh(C2H4)(2)](3)} (2). Unde r UV irradiation of 2 in pentane in the presence of benzene only two [ C5H4Rh(C2H4)(2)] units of 2 react with loss of ethene and formation of the mu-eta(3):eta(3) benzene compound {MeSi[(C5H4Rh)(2)(C6H6)][C5H4Rh (C2H4)(2)]} (3). The novel complexes 2 and 3 were characterized spectr oscopically and by X-ray structure analysis.