Alkali and alkaline-earth metals

The intention of this chapter is to provide a non-critical overview of research advances involving the elements of Groups 1 and 2 during the calendar year 2008. As was the case in previous years, coverage will concentrate upon topics centred around the synthesis, structures and applications of coordination compounds of these elements. This self-imposed restriction will necessarily result in the omission of numerous advances in other branches of chemistry and, for this, the author wishes to apologise in advance.