HighlightsThe year 2006 was an excellent year for the Group 14 chemist. The area of heavy M(14)–M(14) multiple bonding has been the subject of many stimulating reports and some debate, which has given colour and lent a clearer understanding to the topic. More examples of transition metal ions encapsulated in M(14) cages have been prepared and surely we will see many more of these intriguing compounds in the coming years. In addition to these, areas as diverse as low-coordination number neutral and cationic M(ii) and M(iv) species, polydiorganosilanes and lead(ii) chalcogenide quantum dots have all seen important advances this year. Group 14 chemistry remains an active and vital area with many and varied facets, with much to recommend it to the synthetic chemist, the theoretician and the structural chemist.