The crystallographically determined structural
features of Na(isodiCp)(15-crown-5) and
[K-cryptand(2.2.2)]+(isodiCp)- are
compared to those of the corresponding Li(TMEDA)
complex and the sandwich dimer involving Li+
(cocrystallized with Li(12-crown-4)2).
The
features of the potassium salt are distinctively different from those
of its congeners. As a
consequence of the encapsulation of the K+ ion by the
cryptand, no interaction occurs with
the isodiCp anion, which is “naked”. Notwithstanding the
complete dissociation that exists,
the stand-alone isodiCp anion exhibits appreciable folding about the
bond that it shares
with the norbornyl framework. The dihedral angle is 8.3(1)° in a
downward direction away
from the exo surface. This unrivaled opportunity to observe the
free isodicyclopentadienide
anion is shown to be in agreement with the results of HF−SCF
calculations.