Transition metal alkyl complexes

Nucleophilic sources of alkyl ligands include Grignard reagents and organolithium compounds.

Electrophilic alkylation commonly starts with low valence metal complexes.

Such interactions are especially common for complexes of early transition metals in their highest oxidation states.

[18] One determinant of the kinetic stability of metal-alkyl complexes is the presence of hydrogen at the position beta to the metal.

These reactions include hydrogenation, hydroformylation, alkene isomerization, and olefin polymerization.

Vitamin B12 is a naturally occurring metal-alkyl complex.
Structure of diethylzinc. The Zn-C bonds measure 194.8(5) pm, while the C-Zn-C angle is slightly bent with 176.2(4)°. [ 4 ]
Hexamethyltungsten is an example of a "homoleptic" (all ligands being the same) metal alkyl complex. [ 3 ]
Structure of the alkyl complex (C 2 H 5 )TiCl 3 ( dmpe ), highlighting an agostic interaction between the methyl group and the Ti(IV) center. [ 17 ]