Benzene complexes with <7-block metals

As a consequence, it is not surprising that there appears to be only one isolated structure claimed. This is of the indium(I) and thallium(I) complexes with a single M—C bond from a o--bonded benzene anion that carries two bulky tri-substituted benzene substituents in ortho positions these partially block approach of other potential donors to the metal cation (Figure 4.3). An X-ray crystal structure has been determined, defining the shape. It is a rare observation, as other complexes (such as Mn(I) and Fe(I)) of the same ligand bind another ligand at the open side of the molecule, as expected. In any case, this coordination number is trivial in the sense that it can have only one shape - a linear M—L arrangement. 

This procedure, sometimes referred to as transmetallation or (metathesis or salt-elimination) reaction, is by far the most versatile synthetic method for a wide range of d-and p-block metal alkoxide complexes. The alkali metal (usually sodium or potassium) alkoxide is treated in the presence of excess alcohol with the corresponding metal(loid) halide either in a hydrocarbon (generally benzene) or an ether solvent (Eq. 2.41) ... 

It is not clear when dithiocarbamates were first prepared, but certainly they have been known for at least 150 years, since as early as 1850 Debus reported the synthesis of dithiocarbamic acids (1). The first synthesis of a transition metal dithiocarbamate complex is also unclear, however, in a seminal paper in 1907, Delepine (2) reported on the synthesis of a range of aliphatic dithiocarbamates and also the salts of di-iTo-butyldithiocarbamate with transition metals including chromium, molybdenum, iron, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, platinum, cadmium, mercury, silver, and gold. He also noted that while dithiocarbamate salts of the alkali and alkali earth elements were water soluble, those of the transition metals and also the p-block metals and lanthanides were precipitated from water, to give salts soluble in ether and chloroform, and even in some cases, in benzene and carbon disulfide. 

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