Like structurally related metallocenes, chromocene readily sublimes in a vacuum and is soluble in non-polar organic solvents.

[1] Ernst Otto Fischer, who shared the 1973 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work on sandwich compounds,[2] first described the synthesis of chromocene.

[3][4] One simple method of preparation involves the reaction of chromium(II) chloride with sodium cyclopentadienide: Such syntheses are typically conducted in tetrahydrofuran.

The main reactivity associated with chromocene follow from it being highly reducing and the lability of the Cp ligands.

The reaction involves the displacement of cyclopentadienyl ligands by the formation of cyclopentadiene: Chromocene decomposes on contact with silica gel to give the Union Carbide catalyst for ethylene polymerization, although other synthetic routes exist for the formation of this important catalyst.