Recent advances in structural chemistry of Group 14 Zintl ions

Abstract The solution chemistry of Group 14 Zintl-type clusters is of growing interest as a result of their potential to be used as molecular building blocks for the construction of nanoscale architectures. Here we review the synthesis of homoatomic and heteroatomic Group 14 Zintl anions, with particular emphasis on their direct coordination to organic species, main-group elements and transition metal fragments.