During the synthesis of complex cyclic macromolecular structures, the react
ion of different mono- di- and triamino alkynyl metal carbene systems with
primary and secondary amines was studied. The results showed the low stabil
ity of the metal carbene complexes obtained from the conjugate addition of
primary amines in contrast to the fairly good stability of the correspondin
g complexes obtained from the addition of secondary amines. (C) 2001 Elsevi
er Science B.V. All rights reserved.