Photochemistry of coordination compounds of the main group metals

A general concept is developed which relates characteristics excited states of main group metal complexes to typical photoreactions. With regard to their electronic spectra and photochemistry the main group metals are classified according to their ground state electron configuration nsxnpy. The photochemistry is generally dominated by the reactivity of metal-centered sp and ligand to metal charge transfer excited states which in most cases initiate inter- and intramolecular photoredox processes.