Two main mechanisms for expanding main group element valence shells.
Classic (octet-expansion), using not only
d
, but higher
s
and
p
(Rydberg) shells.
A non-Rydberg approach: Occupancy of non- or anti-bonding levels formed from non-Rydberg valence AOs.
For more detail, see
dipc.ehu.es/bondslam/index.php/Hypervalence