Enlightening developments in 1,3-P,N-ligand-stabilized multinuclear complexes: A shift from catalysis to photoluminescence

1,3-P,N-ligands provide the ideal spatial separation to facilitate homo and hetero metal-metal interactions to access multinuclear complexes. The rich chemistry of such complexes includes applications in coordination chemistry, metal-activation and (cooperative) catalysis. However, it has been especially the fruitful combination in photoluminescent P,N-coinage metal complexes which has renewed interest in these ligands. While the field classically focused on dinuclear species, now also coinage metal clusters have been studied for use in catalysis and photophysical applications. Reviewed are recent developments from 2009 to mid-2017.