Inexpensive Molecular Models of Metallocenes The construction of models of sandwich compounds, e.g., ferrocene are easilv made from the Prentice-Hall Framework aromatic rings are constructed in the normal way using the s p 2 connectors and carbon-carbon distance 1.4 in. (Moleculsr dimensions from: ROSENBLUM,M., "Chemistry of the Iron Group Metallocenes," Interscience (division of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), 1965, Volume 1, ?. 31). The completed ring is then pressed firmly un s. suitable plece of stiff card and the indents of the connectors marked. Holes may then be pierced a t these points, and the required pentagon shspe cut and fitted to the ring. The card is retained on the ring hy small pieces of the tubing, which can be of the required length for the p orbitals. The center of the pentagon is found and a hole pierced. An octahedral connector is fitted in the holes a t the center of each ring and retained hy small pieces of tubing. Pieces of tubing 1.6 in. long are fitted to these central conneotors and s similar connector, representing the centel. of the metal atom used to join the bwo together leaving the rings separated a t the required distance of 3.25 in. This method hss also been modified to make other multi-ligend metal complexes, e.g., CsHjMn(CO)a, the central metal atom being made from a tetrahedral connector. Also, extension is possible to sandwich compounds having ot,her ring systems and even acyclicligsnds.
JOHN R. SUITON UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN SASKAMON, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA
Volume 47, Number 4, April 1970
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