Reactions of Alkali Metal Derivatives of Metal Carbonyls and Related Compounds

This chapter discusses the applications of anions derived from metal carbonyls and substituted metal carbonyls in the syntheses of unusual organometallic derivatives of transition metals and the chemistry of the organometallic derivatives thus synthesized are discussed. It also discusses the different methods in the preparation of anionic metal carbonyl derivatives and also provides the factors determining the reactions of alkali metal derivatives of metal carbonyls. The organometallic compounds prepared from the alkali metal derivatives of metal carbonyls include compounds in which a transition metal of a metal carbonyl residue is σ-bonded to another atom––such as a carbon atom in an alkyl, acyl, aryl, or perfluoroalkyl group––to the heavier congeners of carbon––silicon, germanium, tin, and lead––to mercury and gold, which form unusually stable compounds, and even to other transition metals. The preparation and properties of all of these classes of compounds are considered and for the sake of completeness, a few related compounds prepared by routes other than those involving anionic metal carbonyl derivatives are discussed.