MECHANISTIC AND SYNTHETIC ASPECTS OF ORGANOMETALLIC OXIDATIVE ADDITIONS

Abstract — The electron transfer occurring between subvalent metals and organic compounds often plays a pivotal role in the syntheses and the reaction mechanisms of organometallic compounds. This presentation examines the factors that promote such electron transfer, namely the metal's oxida— tion potential, the organic substrate's electron affinity, the auto— association of RN units and the coordination on the metal of ligands or donor solvent. Examples of such electron—transfer processes with main— group and transition metal complexes are offered for: a) the formation of carbon—carbon and carbon—element bonds; b) the cleavage of carbon—hetero— atom bonds; c) the oligomerization of unsaturated hydrocarbons; and d) the action of RNgX and RLi on olefins or acetylenes bearing electronegative substituents