[Alfdib]

Can we say that the organometallic are a subspecies of the metallic complex?

Organometallic is a metal bonded to C so it is a metal wi some organic matter around it

Isnt it a sort complex with the metallic in the middle of the complex?

Or not?

Thx

[pgk]

No, we cannot!
As you say, in organometallic compounds, a metal is directly bonded with a carbon atom with an ionic bond (e.g. Bu-, Li+, though in books, it is usually represented as a convalent bond: Bu-Li); while in metal-complex compounds, a metal is indirectly bonded with an heteroatom through the heteroatom’s free electron pair that fills the metal’s empty orbitals and this is completely different.

[pgk]

By another point of view, an organometallic compound is an Arrhenius salt, while a metal complex is a Lewis salt that both are salts but they have a different chemical definition.

[rolnor]

Are all organometalic compounds salts with ionic bonding? I think not.

[pgk]

Although not prepared by the classical acid-base neutralization and regardless their preparation method, organometallic compounds can be considered as salts of the corresponding hydrocarbon conjugated base.
Example 1: Grignard reagent
Firstly, the C-X bond is destroyed by radical initiation (addition of small crystal of Iodine) and the so formed C radical is bonded with an electron of the metal, etc., via a highly ionized bond that is same/similar with the ionic bond. This is a salt of strong base (conjugate base of a hydrocarbon) and therefore it has basic properties and it is quickly neutralized by acids (e.g. water, alcohol, primary or secondary amine). Remember that the acid/base is relative and not absolute in character. On the other hand, the basicity decreases as the atomic number of the metal increases.
Example 2: Phenylithium
Prepared by transmetalation of phenyl bromide with butylithium and … same as above.
Example 3: Tetraethyllead
Tetraethyllead is prepared by transmetalation with ethyl Grignard regents. Due to the low hydrophilicity the contact and thus, the neutralization by water is inhibited. But it can be neutralized by dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, which is highly lipophilic.
Example 4: Ferrocene
It is prepared by transmetalation with the corresponding Grignard reagent. It cannot be neutralized even by strong acids because the proton cations cannot penetrate between the cyclopentadienyl sandwich rings. But in order to be destroyed, a high redox potential is required (high energy bond).
And so on…..
For my own education too, I really appreciate any example that proves that an organometallic bond is not an ionic one.

[rolnor]

The bonding in organometalic compounds are polar-covalent according to Marchs Adv. Org. Chem. Fifth edition Page 234 Only alkali-metals forms ionic bonds with carbon. Also grignard reagents are covalent.

[pgk]

(....organometallic compounds can be considered as salts of the corresponding hydrocarbon conjugated base....)
(...via a highly ionized bond that is same/similar with the ionic bonds...)
The difference between ionic and highly-polalized covalent bonds, sometimes are very narrow.
Example 1:
Is hydrogen fluoride bond an ionic bond or a highly polarized covalent one?
And if not ionic, why HF autoinization occurs?
Example 2:
Is mercuric bromide an ionic compound or not?
If yes, why mercuric bromide has a relatively low boiling point?
If not, why mercuric bromide and is water soluble?