A series of [3]ferrocenophanes with functional P-E-P motifs (E = group 14 fragments) is reported. Out of these, the silicon compounds with the general formula Fe(C5H4PtBu)2SiXY (XY = Cl2, Br2, I2, H2, HCl) have been characterized by spectroscopic means and the bonding situation was analyzed using X-ray crystallography and quantum chemical calculations. Despite the two stereogenic phosphanyl centers, most of the [3]ferrocenophanes have been obtained as single isomers in the course of stereospecific reactions. The corresponding stannylene Fe(C5H4PtBu)2Sn has been obtained in the form of its dimeric adduct.

A bisphosphanylsilylene with [3]ferrocenophane backbone and its heavier analogues are described in the form of donor adducts. These heterocarbenes can be formed by dehydrochlorination (Si) or cycloreversion (Sn, Pb) using NHC (N-heterocyclic carbene) tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene. The structures of the bisphosphanyl-silylene, -stannylene and -plumbylene NHC adducts are presented, and the bonding and stability of these compounds were elucidated using DFT calculations. Reactivity studies confirm the stability of the silylene adduct, where the electrophilic character of the silylene center is comparable to a borane.

Systematic access to β-silyl-substituted phospholes is reported. The synthesis proceeds through the addition of lithium phosphanide to a diyne and silylation of the intermediate β-lithio phosphole. By following this approach, mono and disilylation has been accomplished and the reactivity of the β-silyl phospholes towards oxidation with chalcogens and conversion into phospholides has been explored. The silyl units have

Owing to their remarkable photophysical properties, lanthanide ions are unique for applications in lighting, sensing and display technologies.