bordeaux crystalline powder
Provides catalyst for ethylene polymerization. A precursor to other chromium(II) compounds.
Red needles or reddish-purple solid.
Chromocene is very sensitive to exposure to air and moisture (decomposition is not vigorous). Decomposes in water .
Chromocene reacts with water and alcohols. . It's reaction with alcohols produces pyrophoric metal alkoxides (dialkoxychromium and cyclopentadiene).
Literature sources indicate that Chromocene is flammable.
Chromocene forms pyrophoric red crystals on sublimation at 50o/0.1mm followed by resublimation at 75-90o/0.1mm. Although it is stable at least to 300o, it is readily oxidised in air, and effervesces slowly in H2O to give cyclopentadiene. All operations should be carried out in a dry box. It decomposes in CCl4 or CS2, and for IR even grinding with nujol, KBr or KI causes some decomposition. [Wilkinson et al. J Inorg Nucl Chem 95 109 1956, Wilkinson J Am Chem Soc 76 209 1954, Beilstein 16 IV 1774.]
