Bivalent Tin Analogues of Carbenes

The structure and certain chemical and physicochemical properties of bivalent tin compounds (stannylenes) are examined and the electronic, structural and chemical similarity between these compounds and carbenes and their analogues — bivalent compounds of Group IVB elements — is demonstrated. The possibilities of stannylenes in the synthesis of organotin (IV) compounds as well as complexes in which stannylenes are electron-donating ligands, like carbenes, are analysed. The bibliography includes 457 references.