Crystal structure of a five-membered cobalt–germanium–iron heterocycle, {(π-C5H5)Co(CO)}2(GeCl2)2Fe(CO)4

Abstract

The title compound has been shown by single-crystal X-ray analysis to contain a five-membered Co–Ge–Fe–Ge–Co ring, which is planar within error limits and exhibits the bond distances Fe–Ge 2·438(4), Ge–Co 2·341(9), and Co–Co 2·439(5)Å. The crystals are orthorhombic, space-group P2₁2₁2₁, with a= 39·26(2), b= 12·16(1), and c= 9·82(1)Å, and Z= 8. 3032 above-background reflections were collected by counter methods and refined to 7·0%. For least-squares refinement purposes the cyclopentadienyl rings were treated as rigid groups undergoing hindered rotation.