GeII-H/SiIV-H dehydrocoupling and cycloaddition chemistry of a Ni0 bis(hydridogermylene) complex

Abstract

We report the high-yielding synthesis of bis(hydrido-germylene) complex of Ni0 (2). In contrast to known hydrido-tetrylene chemistry, this complex demonstrates a unique GeII-H/SiIV-H dehydrocoupling reaction, in formation of an η3-[Ge2Si]-Ni complex. On reaction with ethylene, the formal [2+2] cycloaddition across the non-bonded [Ge2] unit in 2 is observed, forming a heavier metallacylopentane derivative. These results give new insights into novel E-E bond forming processes, and the effect of metal-coordination on the reactivity of EII-H bonds (E = C-Pb).