Cumulenes are organic molecules with two or more cumulative (consecutive) double bonds. Their reactions often proceed at room temperature, with or without a catalyst, and are stereospecific, giving the reaction products in high yields – features characteristic of “click reactions”. 

Cumulenes in Click Reactions presents a comprehensive list of cumulene systems and their reactions, with an emphasis on their “click-like” nature. The chapters are structured according to the number of carbon atoms in the system, including coverage of:

• introduction to the chemistry of cumulenes
• one-carbon cumulenes: sulfines, sulfenes, thiocarbonyl S-imides, thiocarbonyl S-sulfides, and 1-aza-2-azoniaallene salts
• two-carbon cumulenes: carbon oxides, carbon sulfides, carbon nitrides (isocyanates, isothiocyanates, and carbodiimides), phosphaallenes, and diarsaallenes
• 1,2-dicarbon cumulenes: ketenes, thioketenes, ketenimines, 1-silaallenes, 1-phosphaallenes, and other metal allenes
• 1,3-dicarbon cumulenes: thiocarbonyl S-ylides, 2-azaallenium salts, 1-oxa-3-azoniabutatriene salts, 1-thia-3-azoniabutatriene salts, and phosphorous ylides
• 1,2,3-tricarbon cumulenes: allenes, butatrienes, higher cumulenes and heterobutatrienes
• noncarbon cumulenes: azides, triazaallenium salts, sulfur oxides, sulfur nitrides, N-sulfinylamines, sulfurdiimides, and dithionitronium cation

Cumulenes in Click Reactionsis an essential guide for researchers and advanced students in academia and research working in synthetic organic, inorganic and bioorganic chemistry.

Dr Henri Ulrich is well known as an outstanding expert in heterocumulene chemistry in general, in particular dealing with isocyanates and carbodiimides. He is also well known for his important contributions to polymer chemistry, in particular from an industrial point of view. Coming from industry his work is focused on synthetic chemistry and practical applications rather than theoretical considerations.