Cover Feature: Further Evidence for ‘Extended’ Cumulene Complexes: Derivatives from Reactions with Halide Anions and Water (Chem. Eur. J. 32/2020)

The formation of ‘quinoidal cumulenes’ is inferred from a series of trapping reactions using ruthenium and iron vinylidene and alkynyl precursors with a variety of nucleophilic and electrophilic species. This is illustrated in the cover artwork (designed by Brady Johnston) by the transformation of a ruthenium vinylidene complex, wherein the terminal alkyne moiety reacts with water to give a corresponding acetyl group. This intriguing process is best rationalised by the formation of an intermediate extended quinoidal cumulene. More information can be found in the Full Paper by J. M. Lynam, P. J. Low, et al. on page 7226.