Heteronuclear Heavy Alkenes EE‘ (E, E‘ = Group 14 Elements): Germasilenes, Silastannenes, Germastannenes...Next Stop?

Abstract

Recent advances in the chemistry of stable heteronuclear heavy alkenes >EE‘< (E, E‘ = group 14 elements) are reviewed, covering silenes (>SiC<), germenes (>GeC<), stannenes (>SnC<), germasilenes (>GeSi<), silastannenes (>SiSn<), and germastannenes (>GeSn<). Their unique structures, bonding modes, and reactivities have been shown to be different from those of the homonuclear species, primarily due to the polarity of the >EE‘< bond resulting from the difference in the electronegativities of the doubly bonded atoms.