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Reference.org
Metal carbonyl
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<p>Metal carbonyls are <a href="/facts/Coordination_complex/1tCyeQUm">coordination complexes</a> of <a href="/facts/Transition_metal/0slGWoLQ">transition metals</a> with <a href="/facts/Carbon_monoxide/CKuLtEMJ">carbon monoxide</a> <a href="/facts/Ligand/6etB3qeW">ligands</a>. Metal carbonyls are useful in <a href="/facts/Organic_synthesis/aprl6Iq7">organic synthesis</a> and as catalysts or catalyst precursors in <a href="/facts/Homogeneous_catalysis/c7wplnb2">homogeneous catalysis</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Hydroformylation/KCnbNIu7">hydroformylation</a> and <a href="/facts/Reppe_chemistry/ymWkKRod">Reppe chemistry</a>. In the <a href="/facts/Mond_process/tqk75J1p">Mond process</a>, <a href="/facts/Nickel_tetracarbonyl/8Py5Dre1">nickel tetracarbonyl</a> is used to produce pure <a href="/facts/Nickel/KwMCHYRP">nickel</a>. In <a href="/facts/Organometallic_chemistry/bhqFz2P0">organometallic chemistry</a>, metal carbonyls serve as precursors for the preparation of other organometallic complexes. </p><p>Metal carbonyls are toxic by skin contact, inhalation or ingestion, in part because of their ability to carbonylate <a href="/facts/Hemoglobin/RsD1MzYA">hemoglobin</a> to give <a href="/facts/Carboxyhemoglobin/pzv2kCQe">carboxyhemoglobin</a>, which prevents the binding of <a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">oxygen</a>. </p>