Selective transformations of cyclopentadienyl ligands of transition-metal and rare-earth metal complexes.

Cyclopentadienyl and substituted cyclopentadienyl ligands are observed in a wide range of organometallic complexes. In addition to serving as ancillary ligands, these ligands have come into their own as intermediates in organometallic reactions, and shown many unique reaction modes involving ring C-H, C-C and C=C bond cleavages. This feature article summarizes the progressive development of cyclopentadienyl-based reactions of metallocene complexes of transition metals and rare-earth metals, with the aim of further developing the fundamental modes of reactivity of such systems together with their synthetic applications.