Question

The CORRECT statement(s) about carbene is/are;

• A. Carbene is an anionic species
• B. Carbene is an intermediate in the curtius rearrangement
• C. Carbene can insert into both $\sigma$ and $\pi$ bonds
• D. Carbene is generated from amines on reaction with nitrous acid

Answer 1

The correct option is C Carbene can insert into both $\sigma$ and $\pi$ bonds

Carbene is a neutral species containing a carbon atom with a lone pair of electrons and an empty orbital. The empty orbital makes the carbene very reactive. Due to its high chemical reactivity, it can insert into both a $\sigma$ and $\pi$-bonds and hence can act as an electrophile or nucleophile in a chemical reaction.