The chemistry of organometallic compounds with bulky ligands such as (Me3Si)3C(Tsi) or (Me2PhSI)3C(Tpsi) attached to a variety of metal centres is reviewed. The compounds Tsi2M (M = Zn, Cd, Hg) and the rare two co-ordinate TsiMn show exceptional thermal and hydrolytic stability. The corresponding alkylmetal halides form ring or cage structures. In a range of new boron compounds the structures o...