The structure of solid (eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl)caesium, [Cs(C5H5)], h
as been refined by high-resolution powder X-ray diffraction. Atomic pa
rameters based on the isostructural Rb analogue were used in the start
ing model. The compound crystallizes in space group Pnma, with Z = 4 a
nd unit cell parameters a 11.3664(2), b = 8.8648(2) and c = 5.7200(1)
Angstrom. [Cs(C5H5)] shows a polymeric zigzag chain, a so-called multi
decker structure, with an average Cs-Cp-centroid distance of 3.140(5)
Angstrom. [Cs(C5H5)] contains a single chain along the a axis. The cha
ins are bent with a Cp-centroid-Cs-Cp-centroid angle of 129.7 (1)degre
es.