Copyright Karl Harrison 1996.
The diagram illustrates the qualitative molecular orbital diagram for a first-row metallocene.
The two C5H5 groups are considered as a pair together to provide 10 molecular orbitals. These overlap with the metals, p and d orbitals to produce the bonding picture shown.
In ferrocene, all the bonding and nonbonding orbitals are just filled by its 18 e electrons and therefore, the Group 8 metallocenes are the stablest members of the series.
| Ferrocene | Synthesis of Ferrocene | Bonding in Ferrocene | Chemistry of Ferrocene | Chime Plug-in |
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