Crystalline Boragermenes

Boragermene 3 featuring a double bond between the Ge and dicoordinate B atoms has been synthesized for the first time by reacting the cyclic (alkyl)(boryl)germylene–PMe₃ adduct 1 with Cl₂BN(SiMe₃)₂ followed by reductive dehalogenation with KC₈. Addition of a Lewis base (^MeNHC) to 3 leads to the formation of the corresponding adduct 4 , which shows double bond character between the Ge and tricoordinate B atoms. Compound 3 undergoes hydrogenation with H₂ concomitant with a complete scission of the Ge=B bond.     

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).     

Ge=B π‐Bonding: Synthesis and Reversible [2+2] Cycloaddition of Germaborenes

Phosphine‐stabilized germaborenes featuring an unprecedented Ge=B double bond with short B???Ge contacts of 1.886(2) ( 4 ) and 1.895(3) Å ( 5 ) were synthesized starting from an intramolecular germylene–phosphine Lewis pair ( 1 ). After oxidative addition of boron trihalides BX₃ (X=Cl, Br), the addition products were reduced with magnesium and catalytic amounts of anthracene to give the borylene derivatives in yields of 78 % ( 4 ) and 57 % ( 5 ). These halide‐substituted germaborenes were characterized by single‐crystal structure analysis, and the electronic structures were studied by quantum‐chemical calculations. According to an NBO NRT analysis, the dominating Lewis structure contains a Ge=B double bond. The germaborenes undergo a reversible, photochemically initiated [2+2] cycloaddition with the phenyl moiety of a terphenyl substituent at room temperature, forming a complex heterocyclic structure with Ge^IV in a strongly distorted coordination environment.     

Germacyclobutenes: Generation by 1,1‐Carbalumination or 1,1‐Carbagallation and Their Photophysical Properties

Aluminium‐ and gallium‐functionalised alkenylalkynylgermanes, R¹₂Ge(C?C?R²)[C{E(CMe₃)₂}?C(H)?R²] (E=Al, Ga), exhibit a close contact between the coordinatively unsaturated Al or Ga atoms and the α‐C atoms of the intact ethynyl groups. These interactions activate the Ge?C(alkynyl) bonds and favour the thermally induced insertion of these C atoms into the E?C(vinyl) bonds by means of 1,1‐carbalumination or 1,1‐carbagallation reactions. For the first time the latter method was shown to be a powerful alternative to known metallation processes. Germacyclobutenes with an unsaturated GeC₃ heterocycle and endo‐ and exocyclic C?C bonds resulted from concomitant Ge?C bond formation to the β‐C atoms of the alkynyl groups. These heterocyclic compounds show an interesting photoluminescence behaviour with Stokes shifts of >110 nm. The fascinating properties are based on extended π‐delocalisation including σ*‐orbitals localised at Ge and Al. High‐level quantum chemical DFT and TD‐DFT calculations for an Al compound were applied to elucidate their absorption and emission properties. They revealed a biradical excited state with the transfer of a π‐electron into the empty p‐orbital at Al and a pyramidalisation of the metal atom.     

Relative stability of multiple bonds between germanium and arsenic. A theoretical study

Substituent effects on the potential energy surface of XGeAs (X=H, Li, Na, BeH, MgH, BH₂, AlH₂, CH₃, SiH₃, NH₂, PH₂, OH, SH, F, and Cl) were investigated by using B3LYP and CCSD(T) methods. The isomers include structures with formal double (GeAsX) and triple (XGeAs) bonds to germanium–arsenic, so a direct comparison of these types of species is possible. Our model calculations indicate that electropositively substituted GeAsX species are thermodynamically and kinetically more stable than their isomeric XGeAs molecules. Moreover, the theoretical findings suggest that F, OH, NH₂, and CH₃ substitution prefer to shift the double bond (GeAsX) by forming a triple bond (XGeAs).     

Isolation of Elusive Phosphinidene-Chlorotetrylenes: The Heavier Cyanogen Chloride Analogues

The elusive phosphinidene-chlorotetrylenes, [PGeCl] and [PSiCl] have been stabilized by the hetero-bileptic cyclic alkyl(amino) carbene (cAAC), N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, and isolated in the solid state at room temperature as the first neutral monomeric species of this class with the general formulae (L)P-ECl(L′) (E=Ge, 3 a – 3 c ; E=Si, 6 ; L=cAAC; L′=NHC). Compounds 3 a – 3 c have been synthesized by the reaction of cAAC-supported potassium phosphinidenides [cAAC=PK(THF)_x]_n ( 1 a – 1 c ) with the adduct NHC:→GeCl₂ ( 2 ). Similarly, compound 6 has been synthesized via reaction of 1 a with NHC:→SiCl₂ adduct ( 4 ). Compounds 3 a – 3 c , and 6 have been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometric analysis. DFT calculations revealed that the heteroatom P in 3 bears two lone pairs; the non-bonding pair with 67.8 % of s- and 32 % of p character, whereas the other lone pair is involved in π backdonation to the C_cAAC-N π* of cAAC. The Ge atom in 3 contains a lone pair with 80 % of s character, and slightly involved in the π backdonation to C_NHC. EDA-NOCV analyses showed that two charged doublet fragments {(cAAC)(NHC)}⁺, and {PGeCl}⁻ prefer to form one covalent electron-sharing σ bond, one dative σ bond, one dative π bond, and a charge polarized weak π bond. The covalent electron-sharing σ bond contributes to the major stabilization energy to the total orbital interaction energy of 3 , enabling the first successful isolations of this class of compounds ( 3 , 6 ) in the laboratory.     

Cooperative GeN Bond Activation in Aluminium‐Functionalised Aminogermanes and Spontaneous Imine Elimination via an Intermediate Germyl Cation

Hydrometallation of iPr₂N?Ge(CMe₃)(C?C?CMe₃)₂ with H?M(CMe₃)₂ (M=Al, Ga) affords alkenyl–alkynylgermanes in which the Lewis‐acidic metal atoms are not coordinated by the amino N atoms but by the α‐C atoms of the ethynyl groups. These interactions result in a lengthening of the Ge?C bonds by approximately 10 pm and a comparably strong deviation of the Ge?C?C angle from linearity (154.3(1)°). This unusual behaviour may be caused by steric shielding of the N atoms. Coordination of the metal atoms by the amino groups is observed upon hydrometallation of Et₂N?Ge(C₆H₅)(C?C?CMe₃)₂, bearing a smaller NR₂ group. Strong M?N interactions lead to a lengthening of the Ge?N bonds by 10 to 15 pm and a strong deviation of the M atoms from the MC₃ plane by 52 and 47 pm, for Al and Ga, respectively. Dual hydrometallation is achieved only with HAl(CMe₃)₂. In the product, there is a strong Al?N bond with converging Al?N and Ge?N distances (208 vs. 200 pm) and an interaction of the second Al atom to the phenyl group. Addition of chloride anions terminates the latter interaction while the activated Ge?N bond undergoes an unprecedented elimination of EtN?C(H)Me at room temperature, leading to a germane with a Ge?H bond. State‐of‐the‐art DFT calculations reveal that the unique mechanism comprises the transfer of the amino group from Ge to Al to yield an intermediate germyl cation as a strong Lewis acid, which induces β‐hydride elimination, with chloride binding being crucial for providing the thermodynamic driving force.     

A Germylene/Borane Lewis Pair and the Remarkable C=O Bond Cleavage Reaction toward Isocyanate and Ketone Molecules

A germylene/borane Lewis pair ( 2 ) was prepared from a 1,1‐carboboration of amidinato phenylethynylgermylene ( 1 ) by B(C₆F₅)₃. Compound 2 reacted with iPrNCO and (4‐MeOC₆H₄)C(O)Me, respectively, with cleavage of the C=O double bond. In the first instance, O and iPrNC insert separately into the Ge?B bond to yield a GeBC₂O‐heterocycle ( 3 ) and a GeBC₃‐heterocycle ( 4 ). In the second case (4‐MeOC₆H₄)(Me)C inserts into the Ge?N bond of 2 while O is incorporated in the Ge?B bond to form a Ge‐centered spiroheterocycle ( 5 ). The reaction of 2 with tBuNC to give 6 , which has almost the same structure as 4 , proved the formation of the isonitrile during transformation from 2 and iPrNCO to 3 and 4 . The kinetic study of the reaction of 2 and iPrNCO gave evidence of proceeding through a GeBC₃O‐heterocycle intermediate. In addition, a DFT study was performed to elucidate the reaction mechanism.     

An Isolable Bis(Germylene)-Stabilized Plumbylone

We report herein the synthesis of a stable plumbylone ( 3 ) by reduction of a bromodigermylplumbylene ( 2 ) with 2.2 equiv of potassium graphite (KC₈). The molecular structure of 3 was established by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study and features a two-coordinated Pb center with an acute Ge−Pb−Ge bond angle. Computational studies showed that this complex ( 3 ) possesses a singlet electronic ground state with a Pb⁰ center. Its high thermal stability can be most likely ascribed to the delocalization of π electrons over the Ge−Pb−Ge moiety. A preliminary reactivity study demonstrates that complex 3 can deliver Pb⁰ atoms to an organic azide producing a tetrameric imido complex [(PbNDipp)₄] (Dipp=2,6-ⁱPr-C₆H₃, 4 ) and perform a metathesis reaction with GeCl₂⋅dioxane to produce a bis(germylene)-stabilized germylone ( 5 ), highlighting the synthetic utility of 3 .     

Nature of the coordination bond in the GeCl4-trimethylamine complex

Quantum-chemical computations were performed for the GeCl₄ ← N(CH₃)₃ system using the MP2/6-31G(d) method with total optimization of its geometry and at different fixed Ge…N distances (from 2.0 to 4.5 Å). The coordination bond in the complex results from the involvement of different AOs of Ge and N atoms (along with other atoms in the molecule) in the formation of a number of MOs. The number of these MOs increases with decreasing Ge…N distance, thus reducing the total energy of a molecule and stabilizing it. The coordination bond and the covalent bond are of the same nature. When the distance between the components of the system is reduced, the partial negative charges of N, C, and all Cl atoms increase; the partial positive charges of Ge and H increase as well.     

Über polygermane: XI. Funktionalisierung von hexaphenyldigerman

The optimum conditions for selectively cleaving off two phenyl groups in Ge₂Ph₆ by trichloroacetic acid have been determined. Neither trihaloacetic acids nor HCl/AlCl₃ nor reactive tetrahalides MCl₄ are suitable reagents for cleaving one phenyl group alone. The ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of functional phenyl-mono- and -digermanes are given. The crystal structure of 1,2-bis(trichloroacetate)tetraphenyldigermane has been determined and refined to R = 0.048. The digermane bond is bridged by both acetates (distances GeGe 239.3(2), GeO 207.3(3) and 231.4(3) pm). The Ge atoms have trigonal bipyramidal coordination.     

35Cl NQR spectra of organyltrichlorogermanes containing theCl_3 Ge - \mathop C\limits_|^| - \mathop N\limits_| - C(O)X fragment

³⁵C1 NQR spectra of compounds containing the fragment C1₃Ge-C-N-C(O)X, which were acquired at 77 K, indicate that in most of the investigated compounds the germanium atom is pentacoordinated owing to the intramolecular interaction Ge ← 0. The³⁵C1 NQR frequencies in these compounds satisfactorily correlate with the bond length of the corresponding Ge-C1 bond. The relationship between the length of the axial Ge-C1 bond and the Ge...O spacing is described by an exponential function. The charge on the chlorine atoms in the investigated models was estimated from the experimental NQR frequencies.     

The new binary intermetallic YbGe2.83

The new compound YbGe_2.83 was obtained from the reaction of Yb and Ge in liquid indium. The crystal structure of YbGe_2.83 adopts the trigonal, P3?m1 space group with a=b=8.3657(12) Å and c=7.0469(14) Å. The structure of YbGe_2.83 is a variant of the CaAl₂Si₂ structure type with ordered vacancies. Germanium atoms form double layers of puckered hexagons creating slabs that sandwich the Yb atoms. YbGe_2.83 can be classified as a Zintl compound with the formula Yb^(2+x)+(Ge_2.83)^(2+x)−. The deficiencies at the Ge sites cause a mixed/intermediate valent state of ytterbium (Yb^2.35+). Valence bond sum calculations suggest an average valence of Yb ions in YbGe_2.83 of 2.51 consistent with an intermediate valence compound.     

Oxidative Cleavage of C=S and P=S Bonds at an AlI Center: Preparation of Terminally Bound Aluminum Sulfides

The treatment of cyclic thioureas with the aluminum(I) compound NacNacAl ( 1 ; NacNac=[ArNC(Me)CHC(Me)NAr]^?, Ar=2,6‐Prⁱ₂C₆H₃) resulted in oxidative cleavage of the C=S bond and the formation of 3 and 5 , the first monomeric aluminum complexes with an Al=S double bond stabilized by N‐heterocyclic carbenes. Compound 1 also reacted with triphenylphosphine sulfide in a similar manner, which resulted in cleavage of the P=S bond and production of the adduct [NacNacAl=S(S=PPh₃)] ( 8 ). The Al=S double bond in 3 can react with phenyl isothiocyanate to furnish the cycloaddition product 9 and zwitterion 10 as a result of coupling between the liberated carbene and PhN=C=S. All novel complexes were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and the structures of 5 , 9 , and 10 were confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The nature of the Al=S bond in 5 was also probed by DFT calculations.     

[Ge2]4− Dumbbells with Very Short Ge−Ge Distances in the Zintl Phase Li3NaGe2: A Solid‐State Equivalent to Molecular O2

The novel ternary Zintl phase Li₃NaGe₂ comprises alkali‐metal cations and [Ge₂]^4? dumbbells. The diatomic [Ge₂]^4? unit is characterized by the shortest Ge?Ge distance (2.390(1) Å) ever observed in a Zintl phase and thus represents the first Ge=Ge double bond under such conditions, as also suggested by the (8?N) rule. Raman measurements support these findings. The multiple‐bond character is confirmed by electronic‐structure calculations, and an upfield ⁶Li NMR shift of ?10.0 ppm, which was assigned to the Li cations surrounded by the π systems of three Ge dumbbells, further underlines this interpretation. For the unperturbed, ligand‐free dumbbell in Li₃NaGe₂, the π‐ bonding p_y and p_z orbitals are degenerate as in molecular oxygen, which has singly occupied orbitals. The partially filled π‐type bands of the neat solid Li₃NaGe₂ cross the Fermi level, resulting in metallic properties. Li₃NaGe₂ was synthesized from the elements as well as from binary reactants and subsequently characterized crystallographically.     

N,P‐Heterocyclic Germylene/B(C6F5)3 Adducts: A Lewis Pair with Multi‐reactive Sites

An N,P‐heterocyclic germylene/B(C₆F₅)₃ Lewis adduct 2 presenting multi‐reactive sites (P/B Lewis pair, germylene, Ge=P π‐bond) is reported. In contrast to classical frustrated Lewis pairs or divalent Group 14 element species, 2 is able to activate two small molecules simultaneously. Of particular interest, 2 reacts with silanes leading to the formation of original cationic germylenes 3 , and can be used as a metal‐free catalyst for selective CO₂‐hydrosilylation to H₂C(OSiEt₃)₂.     

The conjugation and effective charges of the atoms at the triple bond in germylacetylenes

The integrated extinction coefficients (A) of the C≡C stretching modes in the IR spectra of 12 germylacetylenes Me₃GeC≡CR are determined by the resonance interactions of substituents with the triple bond. TheA ^1/2 values change linearly with change in the difference between the effective π-electron charges on the atoms at the triple bond and σ⁰ _R constants of organic substituents R. The average value of the σ⁰ _R constant of the Me₃Ge substituent in the compounds studied is +0.06. The resonance acceptor effect of the Me₃Ge substituent toward the triple bond (d,π-conjugation) is stronger than the donor effect (σ,π-conjugation). Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1569–1574, August, 1998.     

Synthesis, properties, and molecular and crystal structure of hexaaquacopper(IV) bis(diaquacuprato-μ3-trihydroxyglutarato)germanate(IV) dihydrate [Cu(H2O)6][Ge(μ3-Thgl)2{Cu(H2O)2}2] · 2H2O

A procedure for the synthesis of the heteropolymetallic germanium(IV) and copper(II) complex with trihydroxyglutaric acid (H₅Thgl) [Cu(H₂O)₆][Ge(μ₃-Thgl)₂{Cu(H₂O)₂}₂] · 2H₂O (I) was developed and the complex was isolated for the first time in the solid state. The product was characterized by elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and IR spectroscopy. Compound I was studied by X-ray crystallography. The crystals are monoclinic, a = 10.216(2)?, b = 12.272(3)?, c = 10.679(2)?, β = 93.13(3)°, V = 1336.9(5)?³, Z = 2, space group P2₁/n, R1 = 0.0261 for 3616 reflections with I > 2σ(I). Compound I is composed of bimetallic [Ge(μ₃-Thgl)₂{Cu(H₂O)₂}₂]²⁻ anions, [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺ cations, and water molecules of crystallization. In the centrosymmetric trinuclear complex anion, the Ge(1) atom is bound by two fully deprotonated bridging ligands to two Cu atoms. The Ge(1) atom is coordinated at distorted octahedron vertices by six hydroxyl oxygen atoms of two Thgl⁵⁻ ligands (average Ge(1)-O distance is 1.8874(13)?). The Cu coordination polyhedron in the anion is an extended square pyramid (4 + 1) formed by the bridging hydroxyl oxygen atom (Cu(1)-O(3), 2.0039(12) ?), two carboxyl oxygen atoms (average CU(1)-O distance is 1.9674(14)?) of two Thgl⁵⁻ ligands, and two water oxygen atoms in equatorial and axial positions (Cu(1)-O, 1.9761(13) and 2.3643(14)?, respectively). In the centrosymmetric cation, the Cu coordination polyhedron is an extended square bipyramid (4 + 2). The equatorial Cu-O bond length is 1.9428(14) ? (average), the axial Cu-O bond is elongated to 2.5151(14)?. The cations and anions are combined by H-bonds.     

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.     

Beiträge zur Chemie des Phosphors. 101. Synthese und Eigenschaften von Diphosphaboriranen (t-BuP)2BNR2 und (t-BuP)2BNR1R2

Contributions to the Chemistry of Phosphorus. 101 Synthesis and Properties of Diphosphaboriranes (t-BuP)₂BNR₂ and (t-BuP)₂BNR¹R² The reaction of K(t-Bu)P? P(t-Bu)K with diorganylaminodichloroboranes under suitable conditions leads to the new 1,2-di-tert-butyl-3-diorganylamino-1,2,3-diphosphaboriranes (-1,2-diphospha-3-boracyclopropanes) (t-BuP)₂BNR₂ ( 2 , 7 ) and (t-BuP)₂BNR¹R² ( 3 — 6 ), respectively. The P₂B three-membered heterocycles 2 — 5 can be isolated in good yields. They are relatively stable against dimerization to the corresponding phosphorus boron six-membered ring compounds with opposite boron atoms. The rate of dimerization depends on steric and electronic influences of the substituents at the three-membered ring. All NMR spectroscopic results are only consistent with a structure in which the B and N atoms show planar coordination and are connected by a partial double bond.