text: Another popular method for decomplexation involves oxidation of a low valent complex.  Oxidants include air, dioxirane, ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN), and halogens.  Oxidants are selected to avoid reaction with the released organic ligand.  Illustrative is the use of ferric chloride to release alkynes from Co(CR)(CO).  One drawback to this method is that the organometallic center is usually destroyed.  One example of oxidative decomplexation involves the CAN-induced release and trapping of cyclobutadiene from cyclobutadieneiron tricarbonyl.