ORGANIC CHEMISTRY Chapter 8 o There is a group of compounds in which carbon forms only two bonds These neutral divalent carbon compounds are called carbenes o Most carbenes are highly unstable compounds that are capable of only fleeting existence Soon after carbenes are formed they usually react with another molecule RC° Department of Chemistry, Xiamen UniversityORGANIC CHEMISTRY Department of Chemistry, Xiamen University Chapter 8 There is a group of compounds in which carbon forms only two bonds. These neutral divalent carbon compounds are called carbenes. Most carbenes are highly unstable compounds that are capable of only fleeting existence. Soon after carbenes are formed they usually react with another molecule. R2C