Transition metal compounds chemical carbene complexes

The chemistry of transition metal-carbyne complexes is rather less developed than the chemistry of carbene complexes. This is almost certainly because reactions which form new carbyne complexes are relatively rare when compared with those forming metal carbenes. The few theoretical studies of carbyne complexes which are available indicate that close parallels exist between the bonding in carbene and carbyne compounds. These parallels also extend to chemical reactivity, and studies of Group 8 complexes again prove instructive. 

Non-heteroatom-substituted carbene complexes of almost all transition metals are known. Depending on the oxidation state of the metal, the overall charge of the complex, and the properties of the additional ligands, the reactivity of alkyl or aryl carbene complexes can vary greatly. Some examples of compounds with strikingly different chemical properties are shown in Figure 3.1. 

There are two types of transition metal carbene and carbyne complexes low-valent (so-called Fischer type)i" i" and high-valent (so-called Schrock type). The two classes of compounds are quite different in their chemical behavior. Such different chemical reactivity is sometimes rationalized on the basis that the metal-carbene and metal-carbyne bonds in Fischer-type complexes have donor-acceptor character, whereas the bonding in Schrock-type complexes is more typical for a normal multiple bond. 

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