Recent developments in the synthesis and isolation of p-block centered polycations

The rapidly expanding area of main group atom centered polycations is reviewed. For groups 13, 14, 15 and low-oxidation state group 16 dications, the critical feature is the use of neutral ligands to complete the coordination sphere of the otherwise highly electron deficient polycations. The focus of this review is on compounds where the polycationic charge can be localized onto a central p-block element, and materials that can be isolated in the condensed phase and structurally characterized, rather than on fleeting species that may be observed in the gas phase. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.