Synthesis and Reactivity of Bucky Ruthenocene Ru((eta)^5-C60Me5)((eta)^5-C5H5)

Metathetical coupling of an (eta)^5-fullerene ruthenium complex Ru((eta)^5-C60Me5)Cl(CO)2 and sodium cyclopentadienide gives a molecular hybrid of ruthenocene and fullerene, Ru((eta)^5-C60Me5)((eta)^5-C5H5) (bucky ruthenocene), the structure of which was determined by spectroscopic and crystallographic analyses. The molecule shows unique reactivity among known ferrocene and ruthenocene compounds.