The present invention provides a method of making fulvenes, particularly 6-aryl-6-alkylfulvenes, 6-aryl-6-alkenylfulvenes, and related compounds, by combining alkyl- or alkenyl-arylketones with magnesium cyclopentadienyl reagents in nonprotic, including ethereal, solvents. The use of these compounds in preparing bis(cyclopentadienyl)methanes and related compounds, and ansa-metallocenes, is disclosed.