Course Learning Outcomes:

The learners will be able to:
Figure out fundamental differences between carbon compounds and main group element-based compounds.
Design ligand systems and come up with rational synthetic routes.
Understand the suitable bonding models to describe the stability, bonding and propose chemical reactivity.
Understand how to tame exotic chemical species, leading to their isolation and storage in the laboratory.
Rationalize why multiple bonds of main group elements are highly reactive and can be used for small molecule activation.

Course Contents:

Importance of Main Group Compounds: Importance of main group compounds and their utilization in various areas of chemistry.

Electronic Structure and Periodic Trends: Electronic structure and common trends of main group elements in the periodic table. Differences between metals and metalloids.

Ligands for Stabilization: Suitable ligands for the stabilization of exotic main group species.

Reducing Agents: Reducing agents such as KC₈, Li/C₁₀H₈, [{(ArNacnac)Mg}₂] and related systems.

Low-Valence and Low-Valent Main Group Compounds: Nitrenes and phosphinidenes, silylenes, germylenes and their heavier analogues (tetrylenes); carbone, silylone, germylone and their heavier analogues; selected heavier analogues of carbon compounds; trielyl compounds. Synthesis, basic characterization, stability and bonding of these species. Mimicking transition metal chemistry with main group compounds.

Redox Properties and Reactivity: Redox properties; isolation of cationic, anionic and geometrically constrained compounds; their chemical reactivity and applications in small molecule activation.

Multiple Bonds of Main Group Compounds: Si–C, Si–Si, Si–Ge, Si–E/Ge–E and N/P/As–E multiple bonds in general, where E represents main group elements. Synthesis, bonding and chemical reactivity of these compounds, including applications in small molecule activation.

Modern Trends in Main Group Chemistry: Modern applications of selected main group compounds, such as tetrylenes and tetrylones, as ligands for the synthesis of other chemical species.

References:

1. Inorganic Chemistry, 5th ed. Catherine E. Housecroft, Pearson, 2018. ISBN-10: 1292134143; ISBN-13: 978-1292134147.
2. Chemistry of the p-Block Elements. A. J. Elias. ISBN-10: 9386235714; ISBN-13: 978-9386235718.
3. Coordination Chemistry of Silicon. Edited by Shigeyoshi Inoue, MDPI, March 2019, 226 pp. ISBN 978-3-03897-638-7 (paperback); ISBN 978-3-03897-639-4 (PDF). DOI: 10.3390/books978-3-03897-639-4. Reprint of the *Inorganics* Special Issue of the same name; open access.
4. The Group 13 Metals Aluminium, Gallium, Indium and Thallium: Chemical Patterns and Peculiarities. Edited by Simon Aldridge and Anthony J. Downs. ISBN: 9780470681916; Online ISBN: 9780470976548. DOI: 10.1002/9780470976548.