Dinuclear Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl Rhodium and Iridium Complexes Containing 1, 1'‐Ferrocene Dichalcogenido Bridges. X‐Ray Structure Analysis of the Dimer {Cp*Ir[(SeC 5 H 4 ) 2 Fe]} 2

The reaction of [Cp*RhCl 2 ] 2 with dilithium 1, 1'‐ferrocene dichalcogenolates, Fe(C 5 H 4 ELi) 2 , in THF solution led to dirhodium compounds, Cp* 2 Rh 2 [μ‐(EC 5 H 4 ) 2 Fe] (E = S ( 1a ), Se ( 1b ) and Te ( 1c )) containing a metal‐metal bond. On the other hand, dimeric complexes {Cp*Ir[μ‐(EC 5 H 4 ) 2 Fe]} 2 (E = S ( 3a ), Se ( 3b )) without direct Ir···Ir interaction were obtained in low yields in the corresponding reaction of [Cp*IrCl 2 ] 2 , although they were prepared more efficiently by phosphane elimination from Cp*Ir(PPh 3 )[(EC 5 H 4 ) 2 Fe] (E = S ( 4a ), Se ( 4b )) using elemental sulfur (to give SPPh 3 ). The complexes were characterized on the basis of EI‐mass as well as 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra, and the molecular structure of 3b was determined. The iridium atoms in 3b bear a Cp* ring and are connected with three selenium atoms (— two of which are bridging —) in a pseudo‐tetrahedral halfsandwich arrangement.