Chapter 7: Group 2 (Be–Ba) and Group 12 (Zn–Hg)

This review presents a perspective of the important structural and synthetic studies reported in 2011. The strict definition of an organometallic compound as one containing at least one C-metal bond or contact has been used throughout the literature survey. The review is not intended to be comprehensive, although it is based on a comprehensive search. Individual topics are highlighted in bold in the text in order to facilitate rapid access to a particular area of the literature. The year 2011 has seen a large number of structural studies of Group 2 and Group 12 organometallics, which dominate the review for this year. A particular highlight was the structural characterisation of Me₂Zn and Et₂Zn in the solid state.