Ortho-metallated transition metal complexes derived from tertiary phosphine and arsine ligands

This article reviews the synthesis, reactivity and structure of transition metal complexes containing ortho-metallated tertiary phosphines and arsines of the type [2-R2EC6H4]− (E = P, As; R = various substituents). Available synthetic routes are summarized and some general spectroscopic and structural features are discussed. In subsequent sections, ortho-metallated complexes of this type are reviewed, arranged according to the triads of the d-block series. The literature has been covered to the end of 2004. The Appendix lists all known mononuclear, binuclear and trinuclear ortho-metallated transition metal complexes which have been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction.