Cleavage and formation of metal-carbon σ bonds associated with redox reactions

Recent studies on cleavage and formation of metal-carbon σ bonds associated with redox reactions have been reviewed. The redox states of organometallic compounds as well as the steric factors of alkyl groups are shown to play essential roles to control the stabilities of metal-carbon bonds. Irreversible electron transfer processes accompanied by cleavage and formation of metal-carbon bonds are sought to be emphasized as key reaction steps in understanding the versatile reactivities of organometallic compounds from a single, unified view.