Synthesis of a lithium-cyclopentadienide complex by addition of LiNTf2 to a zwitterionic fulvalene

The synthesis of a eta(5)-coordinated LiCp complex by simple addition of a Li-salt in benzene is presented. A strongly zwitterionic fulvalene serves as the Cp-precursor. Evidence for the coordination of Li+ was obtained by the characterisitic Li-7 NMR chemical shifts, variable temperature experiments in solution and by X-ray structure analysis in the solid state.