Insertion into the Strained Silicon−Carbon Bond of a Silicon-Bridged [1]Ferrocenophane: Synthesis and Structure of a [2]Platinasilaferrocenophane

The first example of a well-characterized insertion of a transition-metal fragment into a strained silicon-carbon bond of a silicon-bridged [1]ferrocenophane is reported. Reaction of Fe(η-C 5 H 4 ) 2 SiMe 2 ( 3 ) with Pt(PEt 3 ) 3 yields the novel amber crystalline [2]platinasilaferrocenophane Fe(η-C 5 H 4 ) 2 Pt(PEt 3 ) 2 SiMe 2 ( 4 ). An X-ray diffraction study of 4 indicated that the cyclopentadienyl rings in this species are tilted with respect to one another by an angle of 11.6(3)°. Complex 4 is of interest as a model of the proposed intermediate during the transition-metal-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of species such as 3 to yield poly(ferrocenylsilanes).