In chemistry, the cyclopentadienyl anion or cyclopentadienide is an aromatic species with a formula of [C
5H
5]−
and abbreviated as Cp−.[1] It is formed by the deprotonation of cyclopentadiene. The cyclopentadienyl anion is a ligand which binds to a metal in organometallic chemistry.[2]
The cyclopentadienyl anion is a planar, cyclic, regular-pentagonal ion; it has 6 π-electrons (4n + 2, where n = 1), which fulfills Hückel's rule of aromaticity. Each double bond and lone pair provides 2 π-electrons, which are delocalized into the ring.[3]
Cyclopentadiene has a pKa of about 16. It is acidic relative to many carbon acids. The enhanced acidity is attributed to stabilization of the conjugate base, cyclopentadienyl anion.
Cyclopentadienyl anions form a variety of cyclopentadienyl complexes.[4]