Transition metal ketene complexes have drawn considerable attention as models for the possible intermediates implicated in the elementary carbon-carbon coupling step in surface-catalyzed or homogeneous carbon monoxide reduction. Although ketene chemistry has been investigated for over 80 years, there have been no review articles on chemistry of transition metal ketene complexes.
Three separate aspects of transition metal ketene complexes are reviewed herein, 1) formation of ketene species on catalyst-surface, 2) the preparation and structures of transition metal ketene compexes, 3) chemical properties of transition metal ketene complexes.