The chemistry of group 10 metalacycles

Metalacycles of Nickel, Palladium and Platinum in which the metal binds two carbon atoms form a rapidly growing class of compounds that find diverse applications in organic synthesis both in stoichiometric and catalytic reactions. We address herein the synthetic approaches used in the preparation of these complexes, and their chemical reactivity, with emphasis in processes such as the insertion of small unsaturated molecules into the metal-carbon bonds, which lead to the formation of organic products. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.