Dative bonds in main-group compounds: a case for fewer arrows!

Abstract

Risky business? The use of dative bonds to describe the electronic structure of main-group compounds has come into vogue in recent years. But where are the limits? When does the description as a dative bond make sense and when is this view misleading? This Essay develops the idea on the basis of current examples.

Keywords: coordinative bonds; covalent bonds; dative bonds; p-block coordination compounds.