THE INSERTION OF ALKYNES INTO METAL-METAL BONDS AND ORGANIC-CHEMISTRY OF THE DIMETALLATED OLEFIN COMPLEXES

Recent studies on the insertion of activated alkynes into the metal-metal bond of dinuclear manganese and rhenium carbonyl complexes to yield Z- and E-dimetalled olefin complexes are reviewed. The dimetalled olefins can be readily functionalized by the insertion of additional small molecules into the metal-carbon bonds. Removal of the metal atoms has resulted in the formation of some novel organic molecules.