%0 Journal Article %J Chemcatchem %D 2016 %T Compounds with low-valent p-block elements for small molecule activation and catalysis %A Yadav, Sandeep %A Saha, Sumana %A Sen, Sakya S. %K activation %K carbenes %K main-group elements %K silylenes %K small molecules %X

The past decade has witnessed staggering progress in the chemistry of compounds with low-valent main-group elements. Although these discoveries are mostly fundamental by nature, these compounds show promising reactivity towards small molecule activation. The reactivity of these compounds stems from the modest HOMO-LUMO energy gap; a characteristic known for the transition metals. The journey began in 2005 with the facile activation of dihydrogen by an alkyne analog of germanium [ArGeGeAr; Ar=2,6-Trip(2)-C6H3 (Trip=2,4,6-iPr(3)-C6H2)]. Subsequently, tremendous progress has been achieved in understanding and elucidating the potential of these compounds to activate small molecules as well as to use them in a variety of stoichiometric and catalytic transformations. In this review, we focus on developments in the activation of H-2, NH3, CO, and CO2 by compounds with multiply bound or open shell main-group elements. Emphasis will be given to their catalytic activity.

%B Chemcatchem %I WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH %C POSTFACH 101161, 69451 WEINHEIM, GERMANY %V 8 %P 486-501 %8 FEB %G eng %N 3 %3

Foreign

%4 4.724 %R 10.1002/cctc.201501015