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Organometallic Chemistry

Explore the bond between carbon frameworks and metal centers.

Follow the cause1 / 3

A metal binds an organic fragment. Metal–carbon bonding changes polarity, geometry, and the reactivity of the organic substrate.

catalytic cyclealkene coordination · 42%
Focus the idea
A metal–carbon catalyst moves through a reusable cycleA simplified rhodium hydrogenation cycle is at alkene coordination, position 42 percent. This step forms RhH₂Cl(PPh₃)₂(alkene) with 18 valence electrons.RhClL₂RhH₂ClL₂RhH₂ClL₂(C=C)RhH(R)ClL₂H₂ + alkene → alkane
current stepalkene coordination
metal statein cycle
oxidation stateRh(III) · d6
electron count (simplified)18 e⁻

alkene coordination: the alkene binds at the open site. This step forms RhH₂Cl(PPh₃)₂(alkene): Rh(III), d6, 18 valence electrons. The metal is still carrying fragments; it is not regenerated until the product leaves.

Simplified Wilkinson-type alkene hydrogenation (L = PPh₃): the RhCl(PPh₃)₃ precatalyst first loses one PPh₃ to give 14-electron RhCl(PPh₃)₂. Electron counts use the ionic method (H⁻, Cl⁻, alkyl⁻ as 2-electron X ligands). Real cycles also depend on ligands, solvent, substrate, and competing pathways.

04 / PRACTICE

Make the chemistry yours.

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Answer from the model, then use the explanation to connect the particle picture to the chemical rule.

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What is oxidative addition?