Highlights in low-coordinate group 14 organometallic chemistry

This chapter summarizes the key advances that have been made in the organometallic (or ‘organo-element’) chemistry of silicon, germanium, tin(II) and lead(II) in the period 2008-2009. Compounds in which the group 14 element resides in a low-coordinate environment are the main focus, which allows the chapter to be conveniently divided under the headings of: multiply bonded compounds; small molecule activation chemistry; heavy group 14 elements as ligands at transition metal centres; and heteroaromatic compounds. Since an important highlight review article summarizing key developments in the study of heavy group 14 radical species was published in 2008 by Lee, Nakamoto and Sekiguchi,¹  this topic will not be covered herein.²