Synthesis, characterization and structural elucidation of water-soluble 1-aminoalkane and α,ω-diaminoalkane complexes of the pentamethylcyclopentadienyliron dicarbonyl cation, [Cp∗(CO)2Fe]+

► Reaction of [Cp∗(CO)2Fe(THF)]BF4 with NH2(CH)nCH3 gave [Cp∗(CO)2Fe(NH2(CH)nCH3)]BF4. ► [Cp∗(CO)2Fe(NH2(CH)nCH3)]BF4 are soluble and stable in water. ► [{Cp∗(CO)2Fe}2μ-NH2(CH2)3NH2](BF4)2 was also prepared from [Cp∗(CO)2Fe(THF)]BF4. ► Crystal packing of these compounds shows hydrogen bonding.