MadSci Network: Chemistry |
"Inorganic Syntheses." An organometallic is formally a molecular compound which contains at least one metal-carbon bond. Butyllithium would qualify, but it explodes into a red fireball on contact with air or moisture. Go to a university library and look up less reactive, classic compounds like Zeise's salt and ferrocene. Ferrocene can be crystallized like table salt (albeit different solvents), with no precautions at all. The synthesis and chemistry (nucleophilic substitution re aromatics; deprotonate with BuLi/TMEDA and have some real fun) of ferrocenes is all over the teaching literature. Look up back issues of J. Chem. Ed. for instance. Titanocene dichloride is another favorite. The chlorides are labile and thus a wide range of derivatives can be made - some chemically inert, some not. Fischer carbene complexes are worth a look if you like mildly reactive exotics. As for handling nasties, look up Schlenk techniques.
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Chemistry.