The benzene ligand at CpV(η 6 À C 6 H 6 ) (1) is exchanged for pentafulvenes. Using sterically demanding pentafulvenes gives a clean exchange reaction, yielding vanadium pentafulvene (2 a and 2 b) and benzofulvene complexes (3 a and 3 b). The molecular structures of the target compounds suggest a π-η 5 :σ-η 1 coordination mode with a vanadium III center. With the sterically low demanding 6,6-dimethylpentafulvene, a CÀ H activation at the leaving ligand is observed, yielding the ring-substituted vanadocene II 4. The reactivity of the pentafulvene complexes was investigated. A series of unprecedented vanadocene III compounds were synthesized: Under mild conditions, EÀ H splitting of 4tert-butylphenol, diphenylamine, and 2,6-diisopropylaniline yield well characterized examples of rare vanadocene III phenolate and amide complexes. Insertion reactions into the VÀ C exo bond of the pentafulvene complexes by multiple bond containing substrates were found for acetone, 4-chlorobenzonitril and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide.