Boron, aluminium, gallium, indium and thallium

Abstract

This chapter reviews the literature reported in 2006 concerning the Group 13 elements, focusing on those articles and publications that have appeared in ‘high impact’ journals. The previously separate chapters covering the chemistry of Boron and that covering the chemistry of the other Group 13 elements (Al, Ga, In & Tl) have been amalgamated. The chemistry of boron still forms a substantial section within the newly formatted chapter so, for convenience and clarity and, because of the breadth of research, the chemistry of boron has been handled separately to that of the other elements of Group 13 and has several subsections in order to separate the various areas of boron chemistry. There then follow some comments specific to the remaining Group 13 elements, whereafter each element is dealt with in a single section, with very loosely-defined and cross-referential subsections, the chemistry of the lower elements lending itself to some such crossing of context. The text excludes much materials or technological chemistry unless original, fundamental, or notable for other reasons. Due to space limitations and our new format, this review is not exhaustive, and the authors apologise in advance that not all published work can be covered to the same extent.