Organometallics

Many organometallic compounds are flammable or highly flammable; sometimes they are pyrophoric. They are generally combustible.

A diverse group of compounds are classified as organometallics, and the reactivity of this group varies widely. They are strongly reactive with many other groups, and incompatible with acids and bases. Organometallics are often fair reducing agents and therefore incompatible with oxidizing agents. Many react with water to generate toxic or flammable gases. Organometallics containing halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine) bonded to the metal typically will generate gaseous hydrohalic acids (HF, HCl, HBr, HI) with water, with heat released.

Generally highly toxic. Often react on contact with tissues to give toxic products. Irritating to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Can damage lung tissue and the liver.

These compounds contain carbon bonded directly to a transition metal. This means that metallic carbonates are excluded and also metallic salts of carboxylic acids and other organic acids. Many chlorosilanes can be regarded as organometallic. However, these compounds are listed in the Chlorosilanes group.

Bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)nickel, bis(cyclopentadienyl)chromium, bis(cyclopentadienyl)vanadium chloride, bis(cyclopentadienyl)vanadium dichloride, bis(tributyltin)oxide, chromium carbonyl, cobalt carbonyl, cobaltocene, dibutyltin diacetate.