Metalacycles of Nickel, Palladium and Platinum in which the metal binds two
carbon atoms form a rapidly growing class of compounds that find diverse a
pplications in organic synthesis both in stoichiometric and catalytic react
ions. 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
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