Methylcyclopentadiene

Methylcyclopentadiene describes three isomeric cyclic dialkenes with the formula C₅MeH₅ (Me = CH₃). These isomers are the organic precursor to the methylcyclopentadienyl ligand (C₅H₄Me, often denoted as Cp′), commonly found in organometallic chemistry. C₅MeH₅ is prepared by thermal cracking its Diels–Alder dimer, followed by distillation to remove cyclopentadiene C₅H₆, a common impurity.