Synthesis and structural characterisation of low-valent Group 14 metal complexes containing tridentate 2,6-pyridyl-bridged bis(1-azaallyl) ligands

Abstract

Treatment of GeCl₂(dioxane), SnCl₂ and PbCl₂ with appropriate alkali-metal compounds containing 2,6-pyridyl-bridged bis(1-azaallyl) dianionic ligands afforded bivalent Group 14 metal compounds [M{{N(SiMe₃)C(R)CH}₂C₅H₃N-2,6}] [R = Ph, M = Ge (1), Sn (2) and Pb (3); R = Bu^t, M = Sn (4) and Pb (5)]. The structures of the monomeric complexes 1, 2, 3 and 5 have been confirmed by single-crystal X-ray structure determination; it has been shown that the 2,6-pyridyl-bridged bis(1-azaallyl) ligand is bonded to the metal centre in a N,N,N′-chelate fashion.