Bis(1,3-trimethylsilylallyl)beryllium

Off the Beaten Track-A Hitchhiker's Guide to Beryllium Chemistry

This Minireview aims to give an introduction to beryllium chemistry for all less-experienced scientists in this field of research. Up to date information on the toxicity of beryllium and its compounds are reviewed and several basic and necessary guidelines for a safe and proper handling in modern chemical research laboratories are presented. Interesting phenomenological observations are described that are related directly to the uniqueness of this element, which are also put into historical context. Herein we combine the contributions and experiences of many scientist that work passionately in this field. We want to encourage fellow scientists to reconcile the long-standing reservations about beryllium and its compounds and motivate intense research on this spurned element. Who on earth should be able to deal with beryllium and its compounds if not chemists?

Bis(allyl)zinc revisited: sigma versus pi bonding of allyl coordination

The reinvestigation of two allyl zinc compounds, parent bis(allyl)zinc [Zn(C(3)H(5))(2)] (1) and 2-methallyl chloro zinc [Zn(C(4)H(7))Cl] (2), revealed two new coordination modes in the solid state for the allyl ligand, viz cis- and trans-μ(2)-η(1):η(1). These results call for modification of the conventional interpretation of zinc-allyl interactions. Computational results indicate that the classical η(3)-bonding mode of the allyl ligand is not favored in zinc compounds. A rare case of a zinc-olefin interaction in the dimer of [Zn(η(1)-C(3)H(5))(OC(C(3)H(5))Ph(2))] was found in the monoinsertion product of 1 with benzophenone.