The chemistry of the zerovalent state in nickel, palladium, and platinum compounds is reviewed. After a historical introduction in which the development of this chemistry is analyzed in terms of the current theory of the stabilization of low valency states, the most interesting classes of zero valent compounds are described. The stability and properties of these compounds are discussed and related to the nature of the ligands and the coordinated metal. The catalytic properties of these zerovalent derivatives toward olefins, diolefins, and acetylenes are considered in connection with the facility of ligands exchange, the varia tion of coordination number, and the stereochemistry. A discussion of the π bond is reported.'he first coordination compound with a low oxidation number, tetracarbonylnickel (HI), was discovered in 1890. Despite extensive efforts, however, very few substances of this type were synthesized in the next 50 years.The lack of any knowledge on the structure and bonds of these com pounds was responsible for the poor results. In fact, when tetracarbonylnickel was first prepared, Werner's theory had not as yet been postulated, and even later the theory was not extended to the carbonyls because they were considered anomalous compounds, owing to their chemical and physical properties.The studies on coordination compounds with the central metal in a low oxidation state began to fluorish just prior to World War II. Nickel, palladium, and platinum were particularly investigated for the following reasons:318