Carbene Complexes in Organic Synthesis [New Synthetic Methods (47)]

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Abstract
Transition metals are finding increasing use in organic synthesis on the borderline between “organic” and “inorganic” chemistry. Advantage is taken thereby of the fact that metal‐induced CC bond formation often takes place with remarkable selectivity. The rapid development that has taken place in this area of chemistry is clearly demonstrated by the carbene complexes, examples of which are now known for almost all transition elements, and which have transformed from organometallic curiosities into synthetically useful reagents in less than two decades since the first studies of E. O. Fischer. They are not only suitable as carbene‐transfer agents but also undergo interesting cycloadditions with other ligands in the co‐ligand sphere. Their manipulation requires techniques no more complicated than those for Grignard reactions. Thus, carbene complexes can also be used in the synthesis of natural products such as vitamins or antibiotics.

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