Why study transition metal organometallics? There are an enormous number of known organometallics many of which show unusual structural and bonding motifs. — We have an opportunity to expand out chemical horizons! @ They can be very useful — catalysts — synthetic reagents — precursorsThe 18 electron rule and stability ¢@ Many stable organometallic compounds obey the *18 electron mule’ — That is they have 18 valence electrons on the metal — 18 electrons corresponds to an inert gas configuration for the metal » althernatively you can view this number as being associated with complete filling of the bonding orbitals, but none of the antibonding orbitals — 18 electron mle can be used to predict stabilityElectron counting To count the valence electrons — break the molecule into fragments so that each fragment is neutral — sum up the number of metal valence electrons, the number of electrons from the ligands and the charge on the complex —Mna(CO); » Mn contributes 7e, 5COs contribute 10e and the charge le. The total electron count is 18 ¢