Introduction

Abstract

One definition of an organometallic compound can be found in the notice to authors of Organometallics. It states in part that an organometallic compound is “... one in which there is a bonding interaction (ionic or covalent, localized or delocalized) between one or more carbon atoms of an organic group or molecule and a main group, transition, lanthanide, or actinide metal atom (or atoms).” A very similar definition can be found in an issue of the Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. Hence, an inoiganometallic compound can be viewed as one in which there is a bonding interaction (ionic or covalent, localized or delocalized) between one or more p-block elements (except carbon) of a fragment or molecule with a transition, lanthanide, or actinide metal atom (or atoms).⁽¹⁾ The earliest use of the term inorganometallic that I am aware of was by Richard D. Ernst in a proposal for a NSF fellowship written while still a graduate student at Northwestern University.⁽²⁾ The proposed definition of an inorganometallic compound contains a certain amount of ambiguity and internal contradiction but so does the operational use of the term organometallic. That is, the statement in Organometallics continues: “Following longstanding tradition, organic derivatives of the metalloids (boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, and tellurium) will be included in this definition. Papers dealing with those aspects of organophosphorus and organoselenium chemistry that are of interest to the organometallic chemist will also be considered.”