Synthesis and structures of metallocene complexes of iron(II) and ruthenium(II) derived from 9,9′-spirobifluorene

Reaction between 9,9′-spirobifluorene and [CpM]+ equivalents (where M = Fe and Ru) gives mono and bimetallic complexes [CpMSBF][PF6] and [(CpM)2SBF][PF6]2, where the CpM moiety exhibits distorted η6-coordination to an arene face of SBF. The bimetallic complexes are found to contain equimolar quantities of C1 and C2 isomers.