Syntheses, Structures and Reactivity of Metal Complexes of Trindane, Trindene, Truxene, Decacyclene and Related Ring Systems: Manifestations of Three-Fold Symmetry.

The triple condensation of cyclopentanone or indanone to trindane (CH) or truxene (CH), respectively, provides convenient access to molecular skeletons on which major fragments of the prototypical fullerene C can be assembled. In particular, early approaches (both organic and organometallic) towards sumanene, as well as the final successful synthesis, are described. Organometallic derivatives of trindane have been prepared in which Cr(CO), Mo(CO), [Mn(CO)] or [(CH)Fe(CO)] are η-bonded to the central arene ring.