Teaching old tricks to new dogs - rational synthesis of multi-decker complexes featuring cyclo -P 5 decks.

A rational synthetic pathway towards a series of cyclo -P 5 -bearing multi-decker complexes was developed. The combination of [Cp*Fe(μ,η 5 : 5 -P 5 )] (A) with low-valent transition metal cations yields a series of triple-decker complexes [Cp*Fe(μ,η 5 : 5 -P 5 )MCp'''][WCA] (M = Cr - Ni; WCA = weakly coordinating anion, Cp''' = 1,2,4- t Bu 3 C 5 H 2 ). Utilizing the arene complexes [M(C 6 R 6 ) 2 ][WCA] n (M = Fe, Co) instead allowed the synthesis of the unprecedented cyclo -P 5 -containing quadruple-decker complexes [{Cp*Fe(μ,η 5 : 5 -P 5 )} 2 M][ pf ] n (M = Fe, Co).