Reactivity of low-valent group 14 species toward main group element, transition metal and lanthanide compounds

The dissertation focuses on the application of low-valent group 14 species in organometallic and main group chemistry. Using mono- and divalent silicon compounds, the silicon analogue of a 2π Hückel aromatic compound was isolated (chapter 3.1). A chiral silene was synthesized and the reactivity was studied toward different small molecules (chapter 3.2). Moreover, bidentate silylenes were used as ligands to stabilize rare-earth elements, alkaline-earth elements as well as group 12 metals (chapter 3.3-3.4). Polyphosphides were achieved by using silylenes or plumboles as reducing agents (chapter 3.5-3.6). Dianionic group 14 metalloles, namely, silole, germole and plumboles were used as ligands for sandwich-type lanthanide complexes and the magnetic properties of the Er compound was studied (chapter 3.7-3.8).