Be Organoberyllium Compounds: Part 1 (Gmelin Handbook of Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry - 8th edition (B-e / 1 / 1))

The present volume describes organoberyllium compounds containing at least one berylli­ um-carbon bond, except the beryllium carbides and cyanides. It covers the literature com­ pletely to the end of 1986 and includes most of the references up to mid-1987. This Gmelin volume is different from all other volumes of the series on organometallic compounds in that it is dedicated to an area of research which has virtually come to a complete standstill. Organoberyllium chemistry has never been a very popular field, and only few workers have contributed to its slow growth, as is seen by the relatively small number of publications in the field. This very modest development became stagnant in the early 1970's and was followed by a rapid decline. This exceptional fate of a branch of organometallic chemistry is only partly due to the very limited number of potential application~ of beryllium and its compounds. The compounds of this element are, in principle, at least as interesting and intriguing to scientists as those of other metals in the Periodic Table. No doubt the main reason for the apparent ban of all experimental organoberyllium chemistry is to be found in the established, and alleged, hazardous properties of beryllium compounds. Although similar hazards have been established for other organometallics where active research is still in process, e. g. , mercury and lead, these observations were absolutely lethaI for organoberyllium research. The significance of organometallic chemistry has constantly increased during the second half of this century. The Gmelin Institute is responding to this development by the edition of the volume Organo-Beryllium Compounds 1. This volume describes all organoberyllium compounds containing at least one beryllium-carbon bound except the beryllium carbides and cyanides. Organoberyllium chemistry has never been a very popular field, and only a few workers have contributed to its slow growth, as is seen by the relatively small number of publications in the field. This unusual neglect of a branch of organometallic chemistry is only partly due to the very limited number of potential applications of beryllium and its compounds. The compounds of this element are in principle at least as interesting and triguing to scientists as those of other metals in the Periodic Table. No doubt the main reason for the apparent ban on experimental organoberyllium chemistry is to be found in the established, and alleged, hazardous properties of beryllium compounds. The volume covers the literature completely to the end of 1986 and includes most of the references up to mid-1987 Front Matter....Pages N2-XII Organoberyllium Compounds....Pages 1-1 Compounds with Ligands Bonded by One Carbon Atom....Pages 2-151 Compounds with Ligands Bonded by Two or Three Carbon Atoms (Beryllocarbaboranes)....Pages 152-154 Compounds with Ligands Bonded by Five Carbon Atoms....Pages 155-198 Compounds of Unknown Structure....Pages 199-202 Theoretical Studies of Hypothetical Compounds....Pages 203-215 Back Matter....Pages 216-248