A Mixed Heavier Si=Ge Analogue of a Vinyl Anion

The versatile reactivities of disilenides and digermenide, heavier analogues of vinyl anions, have significantly expanded the pool of silicon and germanium compounds with various unexpected structural motifs in the past two decades. We now report the synthesis and isolation of a cyclic heteronuclear vinyl anion analogue with a Si=Ge bond, potassium silagermenide as stable thf‐solvate and 18‐c‐6 solvate by the KC₈ reduction of germylene or digermene precursors. Its suitability as synthon for the synthesis of functional silagermenes is proven by the reactions with chlorosilane and chlorophospane to yield the corresponding silyl‐ and phosphanyl‐silagermenes. X‐ray crystallographic analysis, UV/Vis spectroscopy and DFT calculations revealed a significant degree of π‐conjugation between N=C and Si=Ge double bonds in the title compound.     

Synthesis and characterization of tetrakis(2,6-diethylphenyl)digermene

Tetrakis(2,6-diethylphenyl)digermene (1b) has been synthesized and its molecular structure determined: (1) the GeGe bond length is 2.213(2) Å and (2) the molecule has a twist angle of 11° about the GeGe bond and an out-of-plane bending angle of 15° at the germanium atoms.     

Activation of Protic,Hydridic and Apolar E−H Bonds by a Boryl-Substituted GeII Cation

The synthesis of a boryl-substituted germanium(II) cation, [Ge{B(NDippCH)₂}(IPrMe)]⁺, (Dipp=2,6-diisopropylphenyl) featuring a supporting N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) donor, has been explored through chloride abstraction from the corresponding (boryl)(NHC)GeCl precursor. Crystallographic studies in the solid state and UV/Vis spectra in fluorobenzene solution show that this species dimerizes under such conditions to give [(IPrMe){(HCNDipp)₂B}Ge=Ge{B(NDippCH)₂}(IPrMe)]²⁺ (IPrMe = 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazolin-2-ylidene), which can be viewed as an imidazolium-functionalized digermene. The dimer is cleaved in the presence of donor solvents such as [D₈]thf or [D₅]pyridine, to give monomeric adducts of the type [Ge{B(NDippCH)₂}(IPrMe)(L)]⁺. In the case of the thf adduct, the additional donor is shown to be sufficiently labile that it can act as a convenient in situ source of the monomeric complex [Ge{B(NDippCH)₂}(IPrMe)]⁺ for oxidative bond-activation chemistry. Thus, [Ge{B(NDippCH)₂}(IPrMe)(thf)]⁺ reacts with silanes and dihydrogen, leading to the formation of Ge^IV products, whereas the cleavage of the N−H bond in ammonia ultimately yields products containing C−H and B−N bonds. The facile reactivity observed in E−H bond activation is in line with the very small calculated HOMO–LUMO gap (132 kJ mol⁻¹).     

A Germacyclopropene with Electronegative Groups at the Ring Carbon Atoms [1]

The reaction of tetrakis(2‐tert‐butyl‐4, 5, 6‐trimethylphenyl)digermene, which dissociates into germylene molecules in solution, with hexafluorobut‐2‐yne furnishes the corresponding germacyclopropene 3 by a [1+2] cycloaddition of the germylene to the C≡C triple bond. The X‐ray structure analysis of 3 reveals a short C=C double bond length of 132.4(5) pm and an acute C—Ge—C bond angle of 39.93(14)°.     

Unusual NHC–Iridium(I) Complexes and Their Use in the Intramolecular Hydroamination of Unactivated Aminoalkenes

N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands with naphthyl side chains were employed for the synthesis of unsaturated, yet isolable [(NHC)Ir(cod)]⁺ (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) complexes. These compounds are stabilised by an interaction of the aromatic wingtip that leads to a sideways tilt of the NHC?Ir bond. Detailed studies show how the tilting of such N‐heterocyclic carbenes affects the electronic shielding properties of the carbene carbon atom and how this is reflected by significant upfield shifts in the ¹³C NMR signals. When employed in the intramolecular hydroamination, these [(NHC)Ir(cod)]⁺ species show very high catalytic activity under mild reaction conditions. An enantiopure version of the catalyst system produces pyrrolidines with excellent enantioselectivities.     

Stabilization of a Diphosphagermylene through pπ–pπ Interactions with a Trigonal‐Planar Phosphorus Center

N‐Heterocyclic carbenes and their heavier homologues are, in part, stabilized by delocalization of the N lone pairs into the vacant p‐orbital at carbon (or a heavier Group 14 element center). These interactions are usually absent in the corresponding P‐substituted species, owing to the large barrier to planarization of phosphorus. However, judicious selection of the substituents at phosphorus has enabled the synthesis of a diphosphagermylene, [(Dipp)₂P]₂Ge, in which one of the P centers is planar (Dipp=2,6‐diisopropylphenyl). The planar nature of this P center and the correspondingly short P? Ge distance suggest a significant degree of P? Ge multiple bond character that is due to delocalization of the phosphorus lone pair into the vacant p‐orbital at germanium. DFT calculations support this proposition and NBO and AIM analyses are consistent with a Ge? P bond order greater than unity.     

Reactivity of α-germyl nitriles with acetonitrile: Synthesis, structures, and generation of Ph3Ge[NHC(CH3)CHCN] and 2,6-dimethyl-4-(triphenylgermylamino)pyrimidine from Ph3GeCH2CN

The formation of 3-aminocrotononitrile and 4-amino-2,6-dimethylaminopyrimidine has been observed during the course of the hydrogermolysis reaction between a germanium amide and a germanium hydride, either as the free amines or bound to germanium as ligands consisting of their conjugate bases. These species arise from the dimerization or trimerization of acetonitrile, and have only been detected when germanium amides having substantial steric bulk at the germanium center are employed in the reaction. The isolation of germanium-bound 3-aminocrotononitrile compounds suggests that α-germyl nitrile species R₃GeCH₂CN that result from the reaction of the germanium amides R₃GeNMe₂ with CH₃CN solvent also can further react with CH₃CN to generate the 3-aminocrotononitrile and 4-amido-2,6-dimethylaminopyrimidine species. The two germanes Ph₃Ge[NHC(CH₃)CHCN] and 2,6-dimethyl-4-(triphenylgermylamino)pyrimidine have been prepared and structurally characterized, and the conversion of Ph₃GeCH₂CN to Ph₃Ge[NHC(CH₃)CHCN] and 2,6-dimethylamino-4-(triphenylgermylamino)pyrimidine as well as the conversion of Ph₃Ge[NHC(CH₃)CHCN] to 2,6-dimethyl-4-(triphenylgermylamino)pyrimidine in acetonitrile solvent has been observed using ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Chiral N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands Enable Asymmetric C−H Bond Functionalization

The asymmetric functionalization of C?H bond is a particularly valuable approach for the production of enantioenriched chiral organic compounds. Chiral N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have become ubiquitous in enantioselective transition‐metal catalysis. Conversely, the use of chiral NHC ligands in metal‐catalyzed asymmetric C?H bond functionalization is still at an early stage. This minireview highlights all the developments and the new advances in this rapidly evolving research area.     

Adduct Formation,B−H Activation and Ring Expansion at Room Temperature from Reactions of HBcat with NHCs

We report the reactions of catecholborane (HBcat; 1 ) with unsaturated and saturated NHCs as well as CAAC^Me. Mono‐NHC adducts of the type HBcat?NHC (NHC=nPr₂Im, iPr₂Im, iPr₂Im^Me, and Dipp₂Im) were obtained by stoichiometric reactions of HBcat with the unsaturated NHCs. The reaction of CAAC^Me with HBcat yielded the B?H activated product CAAC^Me(H)Bcat via insertion of the carbine‐carbon atom into the B?H bond. The saturated NHC Dipp₂SIm reacted in a 2:2 ratio yielding an NHC ring‐expanded product at room temperature forming a six‐membered ?B?C=N?C=C?N? ring via C?N bond cleavage and further migration of the hydrides from two HBcat molecules to the former carbene‐carbon atom.     

Synthesis and characterization of an extremely hindered tetraaryl-substituted digermene and its unique properties in the solid state and in solution

An extremely hindered digermene (E)-Tbt(Mes)GeGe(Mes)Tbt (1; Tbt=2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl; Mes=mesityl) was synthesized. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the hexane solvated single crystal [1·0.5hexane] revealed that 1 has an extremely long germanium–germanium double bond [2.416(2) Å] as that of a carbon-substituted digermene. The temperature-dependent change of UV–Vis absorption of digermene 1 in solution indicated the quantitative interconversion between 1 and the corresponding germylene Tbt(Mes)Ge: (3). The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH=14.7±0.2 kcal mol⁻¹ and ΔS=42.4±0.8 cal mol⁻¹ deg⁻¹) for the dissociation of digermene 1 to germylene 3 were obtained from temperature dependence of the absorption of 1. Since the reactivity of germylene 3 is much higher than that of digermene 1, almost all the intermolecular reactions of 1 in solution proceeded via dissociated 3. For instance, the reaction of 1 with oxygen in solution resulted in a non-stereospecific formation of the cis- and trans-1,3,2,4-dioxadigermetanes 11 and 7 via the initial formation of germanone 12 derived from oxygenation of the dissociated germylene 3. In case of the oxidation in the solid state, however, digermene 1 reacted with O₂ without dissociation to give the corresponding trans-substituted 1,3,2,4-dioxadigermetane stereospecifically. The reaction of digermene 1 with W(CO)₅(THF) was also examined to give the corresponding terminal tungsten complex of the dissociated germylene 3, i.e. Tbt(Mes)GeW(CO)₅ (23), as a marginally stable orange yellow paste.     

Reactions of cyclotrigermane and germylenes with carbonyl compounds: Cycloadducts and oligomers

Reactions of germylenes, generated by thermolysis of cyclotrigermanes, or of bulky germylenes, with various α‐dicarbonyl compounds are described. They proceed through a radical pathway, as confirmed by ESR measurements, to give different types of compounds. In the reaction of (Mes₂Ge)₃ with fluorenone, formation of the 2:1 ketone/germylene cycloadduct and of the oxadigermetane, resulting from a transient digermene, occurred. In the case of acenaphthene quinone, we observed the first example of cycloaddition between a digermene and an α‐diketone. The X‐ray crystal structure of the product shows a drastically distorted six‐membered ring system. The formation of oligomeric adducts was observed with parabenzoquinone. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 10: 125–132, 1999     

Cross‐Coupling of Organolithium with Ethers or Aryl Ammonium Salts by C−O or C−N Bond Cleavage

Various aryl‐, alkenyl‐, and/or alkyllithium species reacted smoothly with aryl and/or benzyl ethers with cleavage of the inert C?O bond to afford cross‐coupled products, catalyzed by commercially available [Ni(cod)₂] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) catalysts with N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. Furthermore, the coupling reaction between the aryllithium compounds and aryl ammonium salts proceeded under mild conditions with C?N bond cleavage in the presence of a [Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] catalyst. These methods enable selective sequential functionalizations of arenes having both C?N and C?O bonds in one pot.     

Three-membered cyclic digermylenes stabilised by an N-heterocyclic carbene

Treatment of potassium salts of silole dianions with donor stabilised germanium dichlorides gave the anticipated silagermafulvenylidenes R₂Si = Ge(Do) (R₂Si = 1-silacyclopentadiendiyl, Do = N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)) only as transient intermediates in a side reaction. They were detected by NMR spectroscopy and, in one case, the formal dimer, 2,4-disila-1λ³,3λ³-digermetane, was isolated. The main products of these reactions are sila-bis-λ³-germiranes, i.e. directly interconnected digermylenes that are part of a three-membered ring. The structural data, supported by the results of density functional calculations confirm the digermylene nature of these products with a long inner cyclic Ge–Ge bond that decreases the inherent high ring strain in silagermiranes.

The reaction of silole dianions with NHC stabilised germanium dichloride affords 3-sila-1l³,2l³-digermiranes, three-membered ring compounds that are directly interconnected digermylenes.     

Two Different Products Observed in the Reaction of a Bis(germylene) with Molybdenum Hydride [Mo(H)Cp(CO)3]

The reaction of the dimeric bis(germylene) [Ge{3,5‐(CF₃)₂pz}₂]₂ ( 2 ) with protic molybdenum hydride [Mo(H)Cp(CO)₃] yielded two different products. In diethyl ether the divalent germylene readily inserts into the Mo–H σ‐bond and the product of the oxidative addition, [Ge(H){Mo}(pz)₂] ( 4 ) (with pz = 3,5‐disubstituted pyrazole, 3,5‐(CF₃)₂pz; {Mo} = [MoCp(CO)₃]), was isolated featuring a germanium(IV) hydride moiety. In toluene an interesting “cascade” reaction takes place furnishing a bis‐metal substituted digermane [{Mo}(H)(pz)Ge–Ge(pz)₂{Mo}]. Although the detailed mechanism of the reaction remains the subject of speculation it seems likely that a germylene, [Ge^II(pz){Mo}], inserts into the germanium(IV) hydrogen bond of [Ge(H){Mo}(pz)₂] under formation of a germanium‐germanium bond, which is a rare reaction behaviour.     

Electronic Structure Trends in N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs) with Varying Number of Nitrogen Atoms and NHC?Transition‐Metal Bond Properties

Carbenes derived from five‐membered heterocycles with different numbers of nitrogen atoms ranging from two to four lead formally either to normal N‐heterocyclic or mesoionic carbenes with, in some cases, the same skeletal structure. The electronic structures of fourteen of these compounds were examined by means of DFT calculations at the B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level. The examined parameters include the energies of the σ‐lone pair at C_carbene and the π‐HOMO of the protonated form, which are correlated to the first and second proton affinities. The singlet–triplet energy gap was used as a measure of the stability of the N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) towards dimerisation. Natural population analysis provided insight into the variation of the p_π population and the natural charge at C_carbene with NHC structure. Additionally, the transition metal? NHC bond in L‐AuCl and L‐TiCl₄ and the nature of the orbital interactions between the NHC and the transition‐metal fragment were analysed in detail by the extended transition state–natural orbitals for chemical valence (ETS–NOCV) approach at the BP86/TZ2P level. Similarities and differences between the NHC? gold and the NHC? titanium bond are discussed, and trends in key bonding properties can be traced back to the variation of the electronic parameters of the NHC.     

Synthesis of Functionalized Vinylgermanes through a New Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Coupling Reaction

Vinyl‐substituted germanes react stereo‐ and regioselectively with olefins in the presence of complexes containing Ru? H and Ru? Ge bonds with the formation of functionalized vinylgermanes that cannot be synthesized by olefin cross‐metathesis procedures. The reaction opens a new catalytic route for preparation of a class of organogermanes that are potent organometallic reagents for organic synthesis because they show very low toxicity and could replace organotin compounds. The mechanism of this new catalytic route was proven to involve an interesting insertion of the vinylgermane into the Ru? H bond and β‐Ge transfer to the metal with elimination of ethylene and generation of an Ru? Ge bond, followed by insertion of the alkene into the Ru? Ge bond and β‐H transfer to the metal to eliminate the substituted vinylgermane.     

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of a pyridine-stabilized germanone

The first isolable pyridine‐stabilized germanone has been prepared and its reactivity toward trimethylaluminum has been investigated. The germanone adduct results from a stepwise conversion that starts from 4‐dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) and the ylide‐like N‐heterocyclic germylene LGe: (L=CH{(C?CH₂)(CMe)[N(aryl)]₂}, aryl=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃) ( 1 ) at room temperature, and gives the corresponding germylene–pyridine adduct L(DMAP)Ge: ( 2 ) in 91 % yield. The latter reacts with N₂O at room temperature to form the desired germanone complex L(DMAP)Ge?O ( 3 ) in 73 % yield. The Ge? O distance of 1.646(2) Å in 3 is the shortest hitherto reported for a Ge?O species. The reaction of 3 with trimethylaluminum leads solely to the addition product LGe(Me)O[Al(DMAP)Me₂] ( 4 ). The latter results from insertion of the Ge?O subunit into an Al? Me bond of AlMe₃ and concomitant migration of the DMAP ligand from germanium to the aluminum atom. Compounds 2 – 4 have been fully characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods. Their molecular structures have been established by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallographic analysis.     

Unusual Fragmentation and Transformation of an N‐Heterocyclic Carbene by a Stable Phosphonium–Borane peri‐Functionalized Naphthalene

A 1‐phosphonium‐8‐borane‐decorated naphthalene molecule 2 has been found to react with N,N′‐dimethylimidazol‐2‐ylidene (IMe), a popular member of the N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) family, which converts it into two vinyl‐amine fragments one of which is trapped between the phosphonium and borane unit by the formation of a C?C and a B?N bond. The same reactivity was not observed for larger NHC molecules. Control experiments and mechanistic studies have established the involvement of an ylide–borane molecule and an imidazolium salt in addition to IMe carbene in this new transformation of an NHC.     

Recent developments in the chemistry of stable doubly bonded germanium compounds

During the last 10 years, several compounds of the type Ge=X (X = C, Ge, N, P, S) have been isolated as monomers. The stabilization of such derivatives, which are generally highly polymerizable, was achieved by using very bulky groups both on the germanium atom and on the heteroelement X. Conjugation (particularly in a few germenes and germaimines) and intramolecular or intermolecular coordination with oxygen or nitrogen, also contributes, in some cases, to the stabilization. The X-ray analyses of such compounds show a significant bond shortening of the double bond (8–10%) relative to the corresponding single bond and a planar or nearly planar germanium. These doubly bonded germanium derivatives are usually thermally stable but must be handled in an inert atmosphere because of their high sensitivity to oxygen and moisture; they are extremely reactive, much more than the corresponding carbon analogues. Nearly quantitative additions on the double bond have been observed with electrophiles and nucleophiles, and various types of cycloadditions also occur. Except in one case, a germylene behavior has not been observed, proving that such compounds retain their structural integrity in solution.     

Réactions d'addition-élmination à partir d'hétérocycles germaniés du type . III. Cas des diéthyl-2,2-germa-2-oxazolidines-1,3 (R = et; X = O; Y = NH,NMe)

Addition-elimination reactions from germanium heterocycles . III. 2,2-Diethyl-2-germa-1,-3-oxazolidines (R = Et; X = O; Y = NH, NMe) . The reactions of 2,2-diethyl-2-germa-1,3-oxazolidines with heterocumulenes (PhNCO, PhNCS, CS₂, CO₂, CH₂?C?O) and carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) are studied. Generally, monoinsertion derivatives are formed by addition of one molecule of the unsaturated compound accross the Ge? N bond. This bond is always the most reactive center of the molecule. In the case of the carbonyl compounds used, diinsertion may occur in a second step by a further addition across a Ge? O bond. Generally, this latter reaction is reversible. By thermal eliminat on of (Et₂GeO)_n or (Et₂GeS)₃ the monoaddition derivatives yield the corresponding oxazolidines and thiooxazolidines. The mechanisms of these reactions are discussed.