The bis(pentalene) complexes M2(pent†) 2 (M = Rh (1), Pd (2); pent† = 1,4- bis(triisopropylsilyl)pentalene) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. In both 1 and 2 the metals have a formal electron count in excess of 18 per metal center, and DFT calculations indicate antibonding metal-metal interactions are present in 1, whereas 2 involves antibonding metal-ligand interactions. © 2012 American Chemical Society.
