Alkaline Earth Metals: Organometallic Chemistry

Abstract

The organometallic chemistry of the alkaline earth metals has undergone a renaissance during the last decade with exciting novel uses of the organomagnesium reagents in synthetic chemistry to significantly extend the utility of these well‐developed reagents. With the development of the organometallic chemistry of the heavier metals significantly lagging behind, and past work mainly focusing on and establishing π‐bonded metal–ligand systems, intense research efforts during the last decade have contributed significantly to expand the understanding of the organometallic compounds of these metals, establishing σ‐bonded organometallic compounds for the heavy alkaline earth metals. This improved insight did not only provide the basis for a more detailed understanding of the metal–ligand bonding characteristics, but also paved the way towards the successful applications of the compounds as polymerization initiators and in organic synthetic chemistry. This article summarizes some of the recent, exciting developments in regards to alkaline earth organometallics.