Heteronuclear Double Bonds E=E′ (E = Heavy Group 14 Element, E′ = Group 13–16 Element)

A number of compounds with heteronuclear double bonds between heavy elements of groups 13, 14, 15, and 16 have been isolated and characterized in the last three decades; they are kinetically stabilized by the use of bulky substituents or thermodynamically stabilized by intra- or intermolecular coordination. They are fascinating compounds in respect of their unusual chemical properties, being very useful building blocks in organometallic chemistry.