Group 10 metal indenyl complexes

This review summarises the synthesis, characterisation, and reactivities of Group 10 metal indenyl complexes reported up to the end of 2001. We begin with a brief summary of the various arguments which have been put forth over the years to explain the observed differences between the reactivities of transition metal indenyl and cyclopentadienyl complexes. The main discussion is then focused on the various metal-indenyl bonding modes and preliminary reactivity trends observed in the complexes (indenyl)(2)Ni-II, {(indenyl)(PdL)-L-I}(2), (indenyl)(MLX)-L-II, and [(indenyl)(MLL)-L-II'](+) (M = Ni, Pd, Pt; L and X are neutral and anionic ligands,(1) respectively). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.