Photochemistry of AlkyI, Alkylidene, and Alkylidyne Complexes of the Transition Metals

Abstract

This chapter discusses the photochemistry of alkyl, alkylidene, and alkylidyne complexes of the transition metals. The transition-metal alkyl, alkylidene, and alkylidyne complexes constitute an extremely important class of organometallic compounds because of their many roles in catalytic and synthetic chemistry. Alkyliden and vinyliden are two different sets of complexes discussed together because of their obvious structural resemblance. The tungsten complexes have been studied more extensively than the chromium analogues, and the less stable molybdenum derivatives have been scarcely examined. Only a few alkylidyne complexes have had their photochemical properties examined, and this is clearly an area in need of further development. The reported studies involve both mononuclear and polynuclear alkylidyne complexes. The complex has been shown to be photosensitive in the presence of acetylacetone. The photochemistry of metal alkyl, alkylidene, and alkylidyne complexes has advanced considerably since the earlier review on this subject.