Coordination Chemistry of the Main Group Elements with Phosphine, Arsine and Stibine Ligands

Complexes of Group 2, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 elements with mono-, bi-, and poly-dentate phosphine and arsine ligands (and including the very few examples of stibine and bismuthine donor ligands) are described. Polydentate ligand complexes containing neutral or charged N, O, C, or S donor groups in addition to phosphino or arsino donor groups are included, but charged P or As (phosphides, arsenides, phosphinomethanides etc.) ligands are excluded. Emphasis is placed upon the X-ray structures, multinuclear NMR data and reactions. The major differences of this class of complexes compared to the familiar d-block phosphine/arsine complexes are discussed and rationalised in terms of the E–M bonding models. Literature coverage is focussed on the last 20 years, although key older work is also included where necessary for comparison purposes, and the article includes work published up to early 2013.