Synthesis of chromium(0) and molybdenum(0) bis (eta(6)-arene) derivatives and their monoelectronic oxidation to [M(eta(6)-arene)(2)](+) cations.

M(eta(6)-arene)(2) species (M = Cr, arene = 1,3,5-Me(3)C(6)H(3); M = Mo, arene = 1,3,5-Me(3)C(6)H(3), 1,3,5-(i)Pr(3)C(6)H(3)), have been prepared by a modified Fischer-Hafner synthesis or by metal vapour techniques. The reaction of Cr(eta(6)-1,3,5-Me(3)C(6)H(3))(2) with the fulvene derivatives pentacarbomethoxycyclopentadiene (pcmcpH), 1-benzoyl-6-hydroxy-6-phenylfulvene (dbcpH), or 1-benzoyl-3-nitro-6-hydroxy-6-phenylfulvene (dbncpH) proceeds with evolution of dihydrogen and formation of the ionic derivatives [Cr(eta(6)-1,3,5-Me(3)C(6)H(3))(2)][E], where E = pcmcp, dbcp, or dbncp. Mo(eta(6)-arene)(2) derivatives (arene = toluene, 1,3,5-Me(3)C(6)H(3), 1,3,5-(i)Pr(3)C(6)H(3)) are oxidized to [Mo(eta(6)-arene)(2)](+) by pcmcpH. The crystal and molecular structures of [M(eta(6)-1,3,5-R(3)C(6)H(3))(2)][pcmcp] (M = Cr, R = Me; M = Mo, R = Me, (i)Pr) have been solved by X-ray single crystal diffraction.