Schrock carbenes do not have π-accepting ligands on the metal centre, and are typically found with:
* high oxidation state metal center
* early transition metals Ti(IV), Ta(V)
* σ-donor and sometimes π-donor metal ligands
* hydrogen and alkyl substituents on carbenoid carbon.
Examples include  and .  
Bonding in such complexes can be viewed as the coupling of a triplet state metal and triplet carbene, forming a true double bond. Both the metal and carbon atom donate 2 electrons, one to each bond. Since there is no donation to the carbene atom from adjacent groups, the extent of pi backbonding is much greater, giving a strong double bond. These bonds are weakly polarized towards carbon and therefore the carbene atom is a nucleophile. Furthermore, the major resonance structures of Schrock carbene put the negative charge on the carbon atom, making it nucleophilic. Complexes with the methylidene ligand () are the simplest Schrock-type carbenes.