Carbenes are reactive chemical species that contain a carbon atom with only two bonds instead of the usual four. This makes them highly unstable and short-lived, often existing only in specific conditions or as intermediates in chemical reactions. Carbenes can be classified into two types: singlet carbenes, which have paired electrons, and triplet carbenes, which have unpaired electrons. Due to their unique properties, carbenes play a significant role in organic chemistry, particularly in synthesis and catalysis. They can participate in various reactions, such as insertion reactions and addition reactions, making them valuable tools for chemists in creating complex molecules.