As the group 2 elements (also referred to as the alkaline earth metals) contain two valence electrons, their chemistries have similarities group 12 organometallic compounds. Both readily assume a +2 oxidation states with higher and lower states being rare, and are less electronegative than carbon. However, as the group two elements (with the exception of beryllium) have considerably low electronegativity the resulting C-M bonds are more highly polarized and ionic-like, if not entirely ionic for the heavier barium compounds. The lighter organoberyllium and organomagnesium compounds are often considered covalent, but with some ionic bond characteristics owing to the attached carbon bearing a negative dipole moment. This higher ionic character and bond polarization tends to produce high coordination numbers and many compounds (particularly dialklys) are polymeric in solid or liquid states with highly complex structures in solution, though in the gaseous state they are often monomeric.
Metallocene compounds with group 2 elements are rare, but some do exist. Bis(cyclopentadienyl)beryllium or beryllocene (CpBe), with a molecular dipole moment of 2.2 D, is so-called slipped η/η sandwich. While magnesocene (CpMg) is a regular metallocene, bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)calcium (Cp)Ca is bent with an angle of 147°.