Organometallic compounds undergo several important reactions:
* associative and dissociative substitution
* oxidative addition and reductive elimination
* transmetalation
* migratory insertion
* β-hydride elimination
* electron transfer
* carbon-hydrogen bond activation
* carbometalation
* hydrometalation
* cyclometalation
* nucleophilic abstraction
The synthesis of many organic molecules are facilitated by organometallic complexes. Sigma-bond metathesis is a synthetic method for forming new carbon-carbon sigma bonds. Sigma-bond metathesis is typically used with early transition-metal complexes that are in their highest oxidation state. Using transition-metals that are in their highest oxidation state prevents other reactions from occurring, such as oxidative addition. In addition to sigma-bond metathesis, olefin metathesis is used to synthesize various carbon-carbon pi bonds. Neither sigma-bond metathesis or olefin metathesis change the oxidation state of the metal. Many other methods are used to form new carbon-carbon bonds, including beta-hydride elimination and insertion reactions.