Some past vignettes of and future prospects for Main Group chemistry

The present article traces, from the author's perspective, some of the impo rtant developments in the chemistry of the Group 13 and 15 elements that ha ve taken place over the past three decades. Included in the review are comp ounds that feature multiple bonding between heavier Main Group elements, th e coordination chemistry of Group 13 and 15 carbene analogues, and novel ri ng systems involving these elements. Some materials science and medicinal a spects of this area of chemistry are also presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce S.A. All rights reserved.