Odd-Electron Bonds and Biradicals in Main Group Element Chemistry

Make or break: Stable biradicaloid main group element compounds could provide deep insight into fundamental processes of bond making and bond breaking. Whereas for a long time such compounds were only known as highly reactive intermediates or postulated as transition states, recently through the isolation of the stable crystalline 1,3-diphospha-2,4-diborabicyclo[1.1.0]butane (1) a decisive step has been taken towards achieving a better understanding of the steps involved in making and breaking bonds.