Reactions of Nucleophiles with Coordinated Alkynes, Alkenes, and Allenes

Alkynes, alkenes, and allenes are widely available starting materials for organic synthesis. Their reactivity toward nucleophile can be enhanced on coordination to a metal center. Nucleophilic addition on coordinated alkynes, alkenes, and allenes has been a subject of intensive study because of the great importance for the transformation or functionalization of these unsaturated hydrocarbons. The reaction represents a fundamental step in a rapidly growing number of catalytic processes mediated by transition metal complexes. Numerous stoichiometric nucleophilic addition reactions of coordinated alkynes, alkenes, and allenes are now documented in the literature. In this chapter, stoichiometric nucleophilic addition reactions of alkynes, alkenes, and allenes coordinated to mononuclear transition metal centers are summarized. Featured nucleophiles include carbon-, nitrogen-, oxygen-, and phosphorus-based nucleophiles.