Hypercoordinate compounds of the group 14 elements containing κn-C,N-, C,O-, C,S- and C,P-ligands

•3 Center–4 electron bonding leads to hypercoordinated group 14 compounds.•Detailed synthetic routes to hypercoordinate group 14 compounds are described.•Structural and NMR evidence for κn-C,N- and C,O-ligands bound to group 14 metal centers presented.•The NMR resonances of 4- and 5-coordinate group 14 compounds are compared.

This review surveys recent developments in the field of pentacoordinated group 14 (i.e., Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) small molecules, and more specifically Sn compounds, containing ligands with datively linked electron donating atoms such as N, P, O and S. It describes the syntheses of these compounds by a variety of techniques as well as investigations into their unique structures and electronic properties.

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