Transition metal carbene complex

A transition metal carbene complex is an organometallic compound featuring a divalent organic ligand. The divalent organic ligand coordinated to the metal center is called a carbene. Carbene complexes for almost all transition metals have been reported. Many methods for synthesizing them and reactions utilizing them have been reported. The term carbene ligand is a formalism since many are not derived from carbenes and almost none exhibit the reactivity characteristic of carbenes. Described often as , they represent a class of organic ligands intermediate between alkyls and carbynes . They feature in some catalytic reactions, especially alkene metathesis, and are of value in the preparation of some fine chemicals. Metal carbene complexes are often classified into two types. The Fischer carbenes named after Ernst Otto Fischer feature strong π-acceptors at the metal and being electrophilic at the carbene carbon atom. Schrock carbenes, named after Richard R. Schrock, are characterized by more nucleophilic carbene carbon centers; these species typically feature higher valent metals. N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) were popularized following Arduengo's isolation of a stable free carbene in 1991. Reflecting the growth of the area, carbene complexes are now known with a broad range of different reactivities and diverse substituents. Often it is not possible to classify a carbene complex with regards to its electrophilicity or nucleophilicity. Fischer carbene Fischer carbenes are found with: low oxidation state metal center middle and late transition metals Fe(0), Mo(0), Cr(0) π-acceptor metal ligands π-donor substituents on the carbene atom such as alkoxy and alkylated amino groups. The chemical bonding (Scheme 1) is based on σ-type electron donation of the filled lone pair orbital of the carbene C atom to an empty metal d-orbital, and π back bonding of a filled metal d-orbital to the empty p-orbital on the carbon atom. An example is the complex . Fischer carbenes can be likened to ketones, with the carbene carbon atom being electrophilic, much like the carbonyl carbon atom of a ketone.

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Related publications (2)

Transition-metal-catalyzed hydrosilylation of olefins is one of the most important methods for the preparation of organosilicon compounds, which have broad applications in both synthetic and material

EPFL2016

New catalytic transformations : unusual halogen transfer mediated by abnormal carbene rhodium complexes

Gaëlle Michaud

2011

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Related concepts (15)

Grubbs catalysts are a series of transition metal carbene complexes used as catalysts for olefin metathesis. They are named after Robert H. Grubbs, the chemist who supervised their synthesis. Several generations of the catalyst have also been developed. Grubbs catalysts tolerate many functional groups in the alkene substrates, are air-tolerant, and are compatible with a wide range of solvents. For these reasons, Grubbs catalysts have become popular in synthetic organic chemistry. Grubbs, together with Richard R.

A persistent carbene (also known as stable carbene) is a type of carbene demonstrating particular stability. The best-known examples and by far largest subgroup are the N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) (sometimes called Arduengo carbenes), for example diaminocarbenes with the general formula (R2N)2C:, where the four R moieties are typically alkyl and aryl groups. The groups can be linked to give heterocyclic carbenes, such as those derived from imidazole, imidazoline, thiazole or triazole.

In organic chemistry, a carbene is a molecule containing a neutral carbon atom with a valence of two and two unshared valence electrons. The general formula is or where the R represents substituents or hydrogen atoms. The term "carbene" may also refer to the specific compound , also called methylene, the parent hydride from which all other carbene compounds are formally derived. Carbenes are classified as either singlets or triplets, depending upon their electronic structure.

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