Stable Singlet Carbenes - Plentiful and Versatile

摘要

Carbenes are neutral, divalent derivatives of carbon. The nonbonding electrons of the carbene carbon can be spinpaired(singlet state, 1) or unpaired (triplet state). The majority of carbenes are short-lived, reactive intermediates. The first "bottleable" carbenes were reported around 1990. Since then, stable carbenes have grown substantially in number and importance. Applications in coordination chemistry and catalysis are developing rapidly.