The effect of solvent upon the rates and mechanisms or organometallic rections. : I. General aspects

The data reported to date on the effect of solvent upon the rates and mechanisms of organometallic reactions have been analysed and discussed and indicate that the effect is very complex. The analysis also shows that there is no overall explanation for the effect and that indeed such an explanation seems at present to be non-existent.It is suggested that the problem may be successfully approached through a study of the effect of the solvent upon the redistribution of organic groups between organometallic molecules. In these reactionis, not only the kinetics of the reactions in various solvents should be studied but also identification of the organometallic complexes is essential as well as the electronic structures and geometries of the complexes in the crystalline phase and in solution.