Recent trends in bonding and structure of metal derivatives of phosphine chalcogenides

In this review, the bonding and structures of coordination compounds of phosphine chalcogenides (P = E, E = O, S, Se, Te) with several transition and non-transition elements, reported during the period from 1990 to 2023, are described. The phosphine chalcogenides of the type, R3P = E, R2P(= E)-X-P(= E)R2, R2P(= E)-X-PR2 etc. with {P = E} moiety (E = S, Se, Te, O), and R groups at phosphorus with P–C or P-N bonds, or mixed P–C and P-N bonds, have been used in the synthesis of coordination compounds. The purpose of the review is three -fold: (a) To update the versatility of bonding and structures of coordination compounds with phosphine chalcogenides; (b) The study of bonding and structures of lanthanide/actinide complexes with phosphine oxides for their importance in the liquid–liquid extraction and separation of rare earth metals, and (c) To highlight the importance of coordination compounds of d10- and main group metals, for their potential use in the formation of metal chalcogenide thin films of relevance in solid state devices and catalysis. Finally, it is stated here that in view of diversity of ligands based on phosphine chalcogens, the survey of coordination compounds reported in this review mainly focuses on ligands more commonly used as delineated above.