Metal-Carbon Bonds in Nature

In contrast to most metabolic processes, but similar to some industrial catalysts, vitamin B 12 contains a cobalt-active species and is sometimes referred to as “nature's organometallic catalyst.” Kovacs et al . provide background and commentary to accompany the research report by Kumar et al . ( p. 628 ) describing a second organometallic intermediate in biology—an active nickel species that serves as a precursor to acetic acid through its reaction with carbon monoxide and acetyl-CoA synthase.