The use of [2-C₆R₄PPh₂]⁻ (R = H, F) and related carbanions as building blocks in coordination chemistry

Over the last half-century, aryl carbanions of the general type [2-C₆R₄ER′₂]⁻ (R = H, F; E = Group 15 element; R′ = various alkyl and aryl groups) have found increasing application as versatile building blocks in the design of novel ligands which, in turn, have played a prominent role in the development of the chemistry of main group and d-block element chemistry. In this review we aim to summarise the main findings and the developments to which they have contributed.