Carbenoid

In chemistry a carbenoid is a reactive intermediate that shares reaction characteristics with a carbene. In the Simmons-Smith reaction the carbenoid intermediate is a zinc / iodine complex that takes the form of

I-CH₂-Zn-I

This complex reacts with an alkene to a cyclopropane just as a carbene would do.

References

• Organic Chemistry john McMurry Brooks /Cole Publishing Company 1988 ISBN 0-534-079-68-7