Synthesis and characterization of π cyclopentadienyl complexes of manganese and iron with one to five fluorosilyl substituents. Crystal and molecular structures of [Mn(C5Br{SiMe2F}4)(CO)3] and [Mn(C5{SiMe2F}5)(CO)3].

The reaction of AgSbF6 with the cymantrenyl hydrosilanes [Mn{C5Br5-n(SiMe2H)n}(CO)3] (n = 1-5) gives the corresponding fluorosilanes. With the ferrocenylhydrosilanes [Fe{C5Br5-n(SiMe2H)n}(C5H5)] fluorination and oxidation to give the ferricenium salts [Fe{C5Br5-n(SiMe2F)n}(C5H5)]+SbF6- (n = 1-5) occurs. Reaction of the latter with cobaltocene gives the corresponding neutral fluorosilanes. All compounds were characterized by a combination of NMR methods (1H, 13C{1H} and 19F; sometimes also 29Si) and in part as well by IR and HR mass spectrometry. The reactivity of the cymantrenyl fluorosilanes towards carbanions and MeOH was studied. X-ray diffraction analysis of [Mn{C5Br5-n(SiMe2F)n}(CO)3] (n = 4-5) shows paddle-wheel orientations of the SiMe2F groups.