The reaction between Mg( n Bu) 2 and C 5 Ph 4 H 2 in toluene at 100−110 °C yielded octaphenylmagnesocene, [Mg-(C 5 Ph 4 H) 2 ], which has two parallel Cp rings despite the steric bulk of the ligands. The redox-transmetalation/protolysis (RTP) reaction between calcium metal, HgPh 2 , and C 5 Ph 4 H 2 in thf afforded the bent calcium sandwich complex [Ca-(C 5 Ph 4 H) 2 (thf)]. Two rare calcium and ytterbium pseudo-Grignard complexes, [M(C 5 Ph 4 H)(μ-Br)(thf) 2 ] 2 , were prepared from RTP reactions of the corresponding metal, PhHgBr, and C 5 Ph 4 H 2 in thf. Reduction of the calcium bromide complex by KC 8 in the presence of 18-crown-6 afforded the charge-separated potassium compound [K(18-crown-6)(thf) 2 ][C 5 Ph 4 H], but no Ca I species were detected.