Question

What are organometallic compounds?

Answer 1

Hint : The compounds having at least one bond between a metal atom and carbon atom are known as organometallic compounds. The organometallic compounds generally have low melting points. They are insoluble in water but soluble in ether. These compounds can be used as reagents in various chemical reactions.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Organometallic compounds are those chemical compounds which have at least one bond between a metal atom and a carbon atom. Some examples of organometallic compounds are Grignard reagent (RMgX), Gilman’s reagent $({R_2}CuLi)$ , etc.
Now, these compounds have some characteristic properties such as:
- Organometallic compounds generally have low melting points.
- These compounds are insoluble in water whereas soluble in ether.
- They can be used as reagents in various chemical reactions.
Metal carbonyl compounds are the most common organometallic compounds. The octahedral organometallic compounds follow the $18{e^ - }$ rule. While the tetrahedral organometallic compounds follow the $16{e^ - }$ rule. In this rule one thing is assumed that the metal carbonyls gain or lose electrons to attain the noble gas configuration and the compound which follows this rule is said to be the stable compound.
The total number of electrons in the d shell and number of electrons donated by ligands should be eighteen.

Note :
There are many applications of organometallic compounds such as they can be used in many chemical reactions. Organolithium is used in the polymerization reactions. Cyclopentadienyl anion is used as a drug and tetra-ethyl lead is used as an anti-knocking agent in some fuels. In coupling reactions, palladium catalysts are used.