<Abstract> Recent work on the organoarsenic-containing element-block polymers is reviewed. This review firstly describes several practical synthetic methods for As-C bond formation without volatile arsenic intermediates, i.e., radical ‘bismetallation’ to carbon-carbon triple bonds based on homolytic cleavage of organoarsenic homocycles, in-situ generated organoarsenic nucleophiles and electrophiles from the organoarsenic homocycles. These practical methods can produce a variety of organoarsenic-containing element-blocks, such as 1,4-dihydro-1,4-diarsinines, 9-arsafluorenes, 2,5-diarylarsoles, and dithienoarsoles. Their stability toward air and moisture was great enough to allow their handling in air. The present review also describes unique coordination behaviors of the organoarsenic-containing element-blocks with transition metals. The experimental results suggest that the flexibility of the bond angles around the arsenic center is an inherent property in the present organoarsenic compounds, and the flexibility might be a main reason for the stabilization of the strained conformations, enabling synthesis of unusual complexes, and showing unique properties. Synthesis and properties of the organoarsenic-containing element-block polymers are also surveyed.
Keywords: Element-Block Polymers / Organiarsenic Compound / Arsafluorene / Arsol / Metal Complex |