Abbreviations Cp2VCl2 Molar mass 252.03 g/mol Appearance Green solid | Formula C10H10Cl2V Density 1.7 g/cm³ | |
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Vanadocene dichloride is an organometallic complex with formula (η5-C5H5)2VCl2 (commonly abbreviated as Cp2VCl2). It is a structural analogue of titanocene dichloride but with vanadium(IV) instead of titanium(IV). This compound has one unpaired electron, hence Cp2VCl2 is paramagnetic. Vanadocene dichloride is a suitable precursor for variety of bis(cyclopentadienyl)vanadium(IV) compounds.
Contents
Reduction of vanadocene dichloride gives vanadocene, (C5H5)2V.
Preparation
Cp2VCl2 was first prepared by Wilkinson and Birmingham via the reaction of NaC5H5 and VCl4 in THF, followed by work up by extraction with chloroform and hydrogen chloride and recrystallization from toluene.
Structure
Like titanocene dichloride, this organovanadium compound is currently being investigated as a potential anticancer drug (currently in clinical trials). The mechanism by which it acts is not understood, but some conjecture that it might be due to its interactions with the protein transferrin.