Fulvene

Fulvene is one of several hydrocarbons with the same formula as benzene, C6H6. Fulvenes include the derivatives of this simple hydrocarbon, which itself is rarely encountered. Thiele is credited with discovering the scope of the reaction between cyclopentadiene and aldehydes and ketones that affords the brightly coloured fulvene derivatives. Most fulvenes are prepared by the reactions starting from cyclopentadiene or sodium cyclopentadienyl.



2,3,4,5-Tetramethylfulvene, abbreviated Me4Fv, is a relatively common ligand in organometallic chemistry. It typically results from the deprotonation of cationic pentamethylcyclopentadienyl complexes.