An unsymmetric substituted digermylene with a Ge(i)–Ge(i) bond and synthesis of a germylene–stannylene with a Ge(i)–Sn(i) bond

Abstract

Convenient salt metathesis reaction of the N-heterocyclic germanium(II) nucleophile LGeK(Et₂O)₂ [L = C(Me)CHC(Me)N(2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)] with the β-diketiminato Ge(II) chloride L′GeCl [L′ = CH{CMe(NR)}₂, R = 2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃] and the tin analogue L′SnCl furnishes the corresponding novel digermylene having a Ge(I)–Ge(I) bond and the first germylene–stannylene with a Ge(I)–Sn(I) bond, respectively; spectroscopic, structural and theoretical analysis of the latter compounds revealed that they bear Ge–M (M = Ge and Sn) σ bonds with ionic character.