Abstract
The development and design of new ligand systems with special donor properties has been essential for crucial advances made in main-group-element and transition-metal chemistry over the years. This Forum Article focuses on metalated ylides as novel ligand systems. These anionic congeners of bisylides possess likewise two lone pairs of electrons at the central carbon atom and can thus function as X,L-type ligands with strong donor abilities. This article highlights recent efforts in the isolation and application of metalated ylides with a focus on work from this laboratory. We summarize structural and electronic properties and their use in organic synthesis as well as main-group-element and transition-metal chemistry.