Facile synthesis of permethyl yttrocene hydride

A convenient three step synthesis of (Cp* 2 YH) n (Cp* = C 5 Me 5 ) is described starting with YCl 3 ·3thf, in which Cp* 2 YCl·thf and Cp* 2 YCH(SiMe 3 ) 2 are intermediates, which could be isolated and characterized. The hydride is active in the activation of sp 2 and sp 3 C‐H bonds as was demonstrated by the H‐D exchange between C 6 D 6 and the methyl groups of CH 2 (SiMe 3 ) 2 at room temperature.