In chemistry, a carbene is a molecule containing a neutral carbon atom with a valence of two and two unshared valence electrons. The general formula is RR'C:, but the carbon can instead be double-bonded to one group. The term "carbene" may also merely refer to the compound H2C:, also called methylene, the parent hydride to which all other carbene compounds are related. Carbenes are classified as either singlets or triplets depending upon their electronic structure. Most carbenes are very short lived, although persistent carbenes are known.
One well studied carbene is Cl2C:, or dichlorocarbene, which can be generated in situ from chloroform and a strong base.
Read more about Carbene: Structure and Bonding, Reactivity, Carbene Ligands in Organometallic Chemistry, Generation of Carbenes, Applications of Carbenes, History