CARBENES
Neutral
Divalent
Has 2 unshared electrons
Carbenes are classified as either singlets or triplets depending upon their
electronic structure.
Most carbenes are very short lived.
Triplet carbenes show radical reactivity. Triplet ground state favored
when substituents σ electron donors
Singlet carbenes show electrophilic/nucleophilic reactivity–Singlet
ground state favored when substituents are π electron donors
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
Classification of carbene complexes
1. Fischer carbenes
2. Schrock carbenes
3. N-heterocyclic carbenes
Fischer carbenes
Fischer carbenes named after Ernst Otto Fischer
electrophilic at the carbene carbon atom
Neutral
Divalent
Has 2 unshared electrons
Carbenes are classified as either singlets or triplets depending upon their
electronic structure.
Most carbenes are very short lived.
Triplet carbenes show radical reactivity. Triplet ground state favored
when substituents σ electron donors
Singlet carbenes show electrophilic/nucleophilic reactivity–Singlet
ground state favored when substituents are π electron donors
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
Classification of carbene complexes
1. Fischer carbenes
2. Schrock carbenes
3. N-heterocyclic carbenes
Fischer carbenes
Fischer carbenes named after Ernst Otto Fischer
electrophilic at the carbene carbon atom
