Cages with low-valent elements of main group IV : heavy congeners of isocyanide (alkylisocyanide) and carbon monoxide

Abstract

Polycyclic or cage-like compounds, which contain formula units such as (GeNtBu), (SnNtBu) or (SnO) or multiples of them, can be synthesized by a general procedure. A critical look is taken at the existence of these species as transient intermediates in certain reactions. Both chemical and structural information are considered.