Until recently the low-coordinate compounds of the heavier elements of group 14 were known only as transient, unstable species which were difficult to isolate. However recent developments have led to the stabilisation of these compounds and today heavier group 14 element cations, radicals, anions, carbene analogues, alkene and alkyne analogues and aromatics have all been prepared as highly reactive, stable, fully characterizable and readily available organometallic reagents.Organometallic Compounds of Low-Coordinate Si, Ge, Sn and Pb describes the chemistry of this exciting new class of organometallics, with an emphasis on their major similarities and differences with the analogous species in organic chemistry. Topics covered include include the synthesis, structure, reactions and synthetic applications of :* Si-, Ge-, Sn and Pb-centered cations, radicals and anions* heavy analogues of carbenes: silylenes, germylenes, stannylenes and plumbylenes* heavy analogues of alkenes: disilenes, digermenes, distannenes, diplumbenes* heavy analogues of alkynes: disilynes, digermynes, distannynes, diplumbynes, and their valence isomers* heteronuclear derivatives: silenes, germenes, stannenes, silagermenes, silastannenes, germastannenes* heavy analogues of alkenes of the type: >E14=E13-, >E14=E15-, >E14=E16 [where E13, E14, E15 and E16 are elements of the groups 13, 14, 15 and 16]* cyclic compounds (three-, four-, five-, and six-membered rings)* heavy analogues of 1,3-dienes, allenes and other cumulenes* heavy analogues of aromatic compounds; including a comparison between organometallic and organic aromaticityOrganometallic Compounds of Low-Coordinate Si, Ge, Sn and Pb is an essential guide to this emerging class of organometallic reagents for researchers and students in main group, organometallic, synthetic and silicon chemistry

Preface.Abbreviations.1. Heavy Analogs of Carbenium Ions: Si-, Ge-, Sn- and Pb-Centered Cations.1.1 Introduction.1.2 Synthesis of RR'R'E+Cations (E = Si-Pb).1.3 Reactions and Synthetic Applications of RRRE+ Cations16.1.4 Theoretical Studies.1.5 Early Studies of RR'R''E+ Cations: Free or Coordinated?1.6 Stable RR'R''E+ Cations.1.7 Summary and Outlook.1.8 References.2. Heavy Analogs of Organic Free Radicals: Si-, Ge-, Sn- and Pb-Centered Radicals.2.1 Introduction.2.2 Early Studies: Transient Species RR'R''E.2.3 Persistent Radicals (Generation and Identification).2.4 Stable Radicals.2.5 Summary and Outlook.2.6 References.3. Heavy Analogs of Carbanions: Si-, Ge-, Sn- and Pb-Centered Anions.3.1 Introduction.3.2 Synthesis.3.3 Structure.3.4 Reactions and Synthetic Applications.3.5 Recent Developments.3.6 Summary and Outlook.3.7 References.4. Heavy Analogs of Carbenes: Silylenes, Germylenes, Stannylenes and Plumbylenes.4.1 Introduction.4.2 Generation.4.3 Spectroscopic Identification.4.4 Structure.4.5 Reactions of Transient Species.4.6 Stable/Persistent Silylenes, Germylenes, Stannylenes and Plumbylenes.4.7 Summary and Outlook.4.8 References.5. Heavy Analogs of Alkenes, 1,3-Dienes, Allenes and Alkynes: Multiply Bonded Derivatives of Si, Ge, Sn and Pb.5.1 Introduction.5.2 Early Studies: Generation and Identification.5.3 Stable Derivatives (Synthesis and Structure).5.4 Summary and Outlook.5.5 References.6. Heavy Analogs of Aromatic Compounds.6.1 Introduction.6.2 Early Studies.6.3 Stable Compounds (Synthesis and Structure).6.4 Summary and Outlook.6.5 References.Index.