The Chemistry of Stable Silabenzenes

Stable silabenzenes ( 1a; R = Tbt, 1b; R = Bbt) were synthesized by taking advantage of extremely bulky and efficient steric protection groups, 2,4,6‐tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl (Tbt) and 2,6‐bis‐[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]‐4‐[tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl (Bbt). The structure of Tbt‐substituted 1a was determined by X‐ray crystallographic analysis, which demonstrated the complete delocalization of the π‐electrons of the silabenzene ring. It was found that silabenzene 1a reacted with C–C and C–O multiple bond compounds to give the corresponding [4+2]‐cycloadducts via 1,4‐addition, while 1a underwent both 1,2‐ and 1,4‐additions by the reaction with methanol. Silabenzene 1a dimerized very gradually to afford its [4+2]‐dimer, although 1b showed no change under the same conditions. Photochemical reaction of 1a gave the corresponding silabenzvalene isomer instead of the Dewar silabenzene isomer.     

[2+3]Cycloaddition reaction of a kinetically stabilized distibene with a nitrile oxide leading to the formation of a unique heterocyclic compound

The synthesis of a 1-oxa-5-aza-2,3-distibacyclopent-4-ene derivative by the [2+3]cycloaddition reaction of a kinetically stabilized distibene, BbtSb=SbBbt (Bbt = 2,6-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-4-[tris-(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl), with MesCNO (Mes = mesityl) has been performed. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. E. Lukevics on the occasion of his 70th birthday __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 12, pp. 1880–1887, December, 2006.     

Systematic Studies on Homo- and Heteronuclear Doubly Bonded Compounds of Heavier Group 15 Elements

The first stable phosphabismuthene (R 1 --P=Bi--R 2 ) and stibabismuthene (R 1 --Sb=Bi--R 2 ) were successfully synthesized by taking advantage of efficient steric protection groups, 2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl (Tbt), 2,6-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)-methyl]-4-[tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl (Bbt), and 2,4,6-tri- t -butylphenyl (Mes*). Their spectroscopic properties and structural parameters were systematically compared with those of previously reported stable, homonuclear, doubly bonded systems, such as diphosphene, diarsene, distibene, and dibismuthene.     

One-electron reduction of kinetically stabilized dipnictenes: synthesis of dipnictene anion radicals

The redox behavior of kinetically stabilized dipnictenes, BbtE=EBbt [E = P, Sb, Bi; Bbt = 2,6-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-4-[tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl], was systematically disclosed using cyclic voltammetry and theoretical calculations. It was found that they showed reversible one-electron redox couples in the reduction region. The anion radical species of the Bbt-substituted diphosphene and distibene were successfully synthesized by the reduction of the corresponding neutral dipnictenes (BbtP=PBbt and BbtSb=SbBbt). Their structures were reasonably characterized by ESR, UV-vis, and Raman spectroscopy, and the distibene anion radical was structurally characterized by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Synthesis and reactions of a stable 1,2-diaryl-1,2-dibromodisilene: a precursor for substituted disilenes and a 1,2-diaryldisilyne

Synthesis and isolation of the stable diaryldibromodisilene, Bbt(Br)SiSi(Br)Bbt, has been accomplished for the first time. The dibromodisilene underwent substitution reactions with organometallic reagents on the low-coordinated silicon atom to afford the corresponding substituted disilenes. Furthermore, the reaction of 1 with t-BuLi afforded the corresponding 1,2-diaryldisilyne, BbtSi[triple bond]SiBbt, the characters of which were revealed by spectroscopic and crystallographic analyses.     

Lewis base induced tuning of the Ge-Ge bond order in a "digermyne"

The reaction of the "digermyne" Ar'GeGeAr' (Ar' = C6H3-2,6(C6H3-2,6-Pr(i)2)2; Ge-Ge = 2.2850(6) A) with mesityl isocyanide affords the bis adduct [Ar'GeGeAr'(CNMes)2] which results in the conversion of a Ge-Ge multiple bond to a long Ge-Ge single bond (= 2.6626(8) A).     

Doubly bonded systems between heavier Group 15 elements

There has been much interest in the synthesis and properties of doubly bonded systems between heavier Group 15 elements, i. e. heavier analogues of azo-compounds (dipnictenes), from the viewpoints of fundamental and material chemistry. Although such double-bond compounds between heavier main group elements are known to be highly reactive, too much so to be isolated as stable compounds, a number of reports on the synthesis of kinetically stabilized diphosphenes (RP[double bond, length as m-dash]PR), diarsenes (RAs[double bond, length as m-dash]AsR), and phosphaarsenes (RP[double bond, length as m-dash]AsR) bearing bulky substituent have been published since 1980. We have also succeeded in the synthesis of the first stable distibene (RSb[double bond, length as m-dash]SbR) and dibismuthene (RBi[double bond, length as m-dash]BiR) by taking advantage of efficient steric protection groups, 2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl (Tbt) and 2,6-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-4-[tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl (Bbt), and revealed their structures and properties systematically. Thus, the doubly bonded compounds between heavier Group 15 elements are no longer imaginary species but are those with real existence which are stable, even in the case of the heaviest non-radioactive element bismuth, when they are appropriately protected by bulky substituents. This Perspective describes our research on the chemistry of kinetically stabilized double-bond compounds between heavier Group 15 elements.     

Synthetic and structural studies on C-ethynyl- and C-bromo-carboranes

A high-yield preparation of the C-monoethynyl para-carborane, 1-Me(3)SiC[triple bond]C-1,12-C2B10H11, from C-monocopper para-carborane and 1-bromo-2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyne, BrC[triple bond]CSiMe(3) is reported. The low-yield preparation of 1,12-(Me3SiC[triple bond]C)2-1,12-C2B10H10 from the C,C'-dicopper para-carborane derivative with 1-bromo-2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyne, BrC[triple bond]CSiMe3, has been re-investigated and other products were identified including the C-monoethynyl-carborane 1-Me3SiC[triple bond]C-1,12-C2B10H11 and two-cage assemblies generated from cage-cage couplings. The contrast in the yields of the monoethynyl and diethynyl products is due to the highly unfavourable coupling process between 1-RC[triple bond]C-12-Cu-1,12-C2B10H10 and the bromoalkyne. The ethynyl group at the cage carbon C(1) strongly influences the chemical reactivity of the cage carbon at C(12)-the first example of the "antipodal effect" affecting the syntheses of para-carborane derivatives. New two-step preparations of 1-ethynyl- and 1,12-bis(ethynyl)-para-carboranes have been developed using a more readily prepared bromoethyne, 1-bromo-3-methyl-1-butyn-3-ol, BrC[triple bond]CCMe2OH. The molecular structures of the two C-monoethynyl-carboranes, 1-RC[triple bond]C-1,12-C2B10H11 (R = H and Me3Si), were experimentally determined using gas-phase electron diffraction (GED). For R = H (R(G) = 0.053) a model with C(5v) symmetry refined to give a C[triple bond]C bond distance of 1.233(5) A. For R = Me3Si (R(G) = 0.048) a model with C(s) symmetry refined to give a C[triple bond]C bond distance of 1.227(5) A. Molecular structures of 1,12-Br2-1,12-C2B10H10, 1-HC[triple bond]C-12-Br-1,12-C2B10H10 and 1,12-(Me(3)SiC[triple bond]C)2-1,12-C2B10H10 were determined by X-ray crystallography. Substituents at the cage carbon atoms on the C2B10 cage skeleton in 1-X-12-Y-1,12-C2B10H10 derivatives invariably lengthen the cage C-B bonds. However, the subtle substituent effects on the tropical B-B bond lengths in these compounds are more complex. The molecular structures of the ethynyl-ortho-carborane, 1-HC[triple bond]C-1,2-C2B10H11 and the ethene, trans-Me3SiBrC=CSiMe3Br are also reported.     

Reaction of a diaryldigermyne with ethylene

Reaction of the stable digermyne BbtGeGeBbt (Bbt = 2,6-[CH(SiMe₃)₂]₂-4-[C(SiMe₃)₃]-C₆H₂) with ethylene initially afforded the corresponding 1,2-digermacyclobutene. Depending on the reaction conditions applied, further reaction of this 1,2-digermacyclobutene with ethylene furnished two different reaction products: a 1,4-digermabicyclo[2.2.0]hexane or a bis(germiranyl)ethane. Combined experimental and theoretical results suggested that the 1,4-digermabicyclo[2.2.0]hexane and the bis(germiranyl)ethane are the thermodynamic and kinetic reaction products, respectively. A reaction mechanism in agreement with these results was proposed.     

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF THE FIRST DISULFUR AND DISELENIUM COMPLEXES OF PLATINUM

The reactions of overcrowded platinum(0) complexes [Pt{P(Ar)Me₂}₂] (Ar = 2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl (Tbt), 2,6-bis[bis- (trimethylsilyl)methyl]-4-[tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl (Bbt)) with elemental sulfur and selenium resulted in the formation of the first platinum disulfur and diselenium complexes, [Pt(S₂){P(Ar)Me₂}₂] (4a (Ar = Tbt), 4b (Ar = Bbt) and [Pt(Se₂){P(Ar)Me₂}₂] (5a (Ar = Tbt), 5b (Ar = Bbt)) respectively. The x-ray crystallographic analyses of 4b and 5b showed a novel three-membered PtE₂ (E = S, Se) ring structure with a square planar geometry around the platinum center. The oxidation of 4b and 5b with an equimolar amount of m-chloroperbenzoic acid or tert-butyl hydroperoxide in dichloromethane yielded the corresponding disulfur and diselenium monoxide complexes [Pt(E₂O){P(Bbt)Me₂}₂] (6 (E = S), 7 (E = Se)). The further reactions of 6 and 7 with an excess of oxidants gave the corresponding O,S-coordinated thiosulfato complex [Pt(S₂ O₃){P(Bbt)Me₂}₂] (8) and the O,O-coordinated selenito complex [Pt(SeO₃){P(Bbt)Me₂}₂] (11), respectively. The dynamic behavior in solution was revealed by the variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy for 4b, 5b, 8, and 11, which indicates the existence of the intramolecular CH···E (E = O, S, Se) interactions between the methine hydrogens of the o-bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl groups and the Pt-bonded chalcogen atoms.     

C-H activation of cycloalkenes by dimetallynes (M = Ge, Sn) under ambient conditions

Treatment of the dimetallynes Ar'EEAr' [E = Ge, Sn; Ar' = C(6)H(3)-2,6-(C(6)H(3)-2,6-iPr(2))(2)] with a cyclic olefin-cyclopentadiene (CpH), cyclopentene, 1,4-cyclohexadiene (CHD), or cyclohexene-showed that, with the exception of cyclohexene, they react readily, affording C-H activation at room temperature. Reaction of the digermyne and distannyne with CpH gave the cyclopentadienyl anion, which is bound in a π-fashion to a mononuclear group 14 element center, along with evolution of hydrogen gas. Unusually, the digermyne also reacted with cyclopentene to give the same dehydroaromatization product, formed from triple C-H activation/dehydrogenation. It also was found to react with CHD to give a mixture of (Ar'GeH)(2), benzene, and a new 7-germanorbornadiene species bound to a cyclohex-2-enyl fragment.     

Synthesis and structures of a 3-sila-beta-diketiminatomagnesium bromide, ketenimide and triflate

The crystalline compounds [Mg(Br)(L)(thf)].0.5Et2O [L = {N(R)C(C6H3Me2-2,6)}2SiR, R = SiMe3] (1), [Mg(L){N=C=C(C(Me)=CH)2CH2}(D)2] [D = NCC6H3Me2-2,6 (2), thf (3)] and [{Mg(L)}2{mu-OSO(CF3)O-[mu}2] (4) were prepared from (a) Si(Br)(R){C(C6H3Me2-2,6)=NR}2 and Mg for (1), (b) [Mg(SiR3)2(thf)2] and 2,6-Me2C6H3CN (5 mol for (2), 3 mol for (3)), and (c) (2) + Me3SiOS(O)2CF3 for (4); a coproduct from (c) is believed to have been the trimethylsilyl ketenimide Me3SiN=C=C{C(Me)=CH}2CH2 (5).     

A chemical trick: how to make a digermene from a disilene,formation of 3delta-1,2,3,4-disiladigermetene

The unexpected reaction of tetrakis[di-tert-butyl(methyl)silyl]disilagermirenes (1a and 1b) with GeCl2.dioxane results in the quantitative formation of trans-1,2-dichloro-1,2,3,4-tetrakis[di-tert-butyl(methyl)silyl]-3Delta-1,2,3,4-disiladigermetene, 2, representing the first cyclotetrametallene containing two different heavier group 14 elements and the first digermene incorporated in a four-membered ring. trans-1,2-Dichloro-1,2,3,4-tetrakis[di-tert-butyl(methyl)silyl]-3Delta-1,2,3,4-disilagermastannetene (8), with a Ge=Sn double bond, was also prepared by the reaction of 1 with SnCl2.dioxane. The crystal structure of 2 was established by X-ray crystallography, which showed a folded four-membered ring skeleton with a long Ge=Ge double bond (2.2911(4) A). The structural peculiarities of 2, as well as the possible mechanism of its formation, are also discussed.     

2,4-Disila-1-germatricyclo[2.1.0.0(2,5)]pentane: a new type of cage compound of group 14 elements with an extremely long Ge-C bridge bond and an "Umbrella"-type configuration of a Ge atom

The thermolysis of 1,1,2,3-tetrakis[di-tert-butyl(methyl)silyl]-4-phenyl-1,2-disila-3-germacyclopenta-2,4-diene 1 at 175 degrees C results in the quantitative formation of 1,2,3,4-tetrakis[di-tert-butyl(methyl)silyl]-5-phenyl-2,4-disila-1-germatricyclo[2.1.0. 02,5]pentane 2, representing a new type of cage compound of group 14 elements. The crystal structure of 2 was established by X-ray crystallography, which showed an extremely long Ge-C bridge bond of 2.242(3) A and an "umbrella"-type configuration of the Ge atom. The compound 2 readily reacted with benzaldehyde to produce 1,4,5,7-tetrakis[di-tert-butyl(methyl)silyl]-3,6-diphenyl-2-oxa-1,4-disila-5-germabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene 3 with an endocyclic Ge=C double bond.     

Synthese,Struktur und Eigenschaften von [nacnac]MX3‐Verbindungen (M = Ge,Sn; X = Cl,Br, I)

Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of [nacnac]MX₃ Compounds (M = Ge, Sn; X = Cl, Br, I) Reactions of [nacnac]Li [(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)NC(Me)C(H)C(Me)N(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)]Li ( 1 ) with SnX₄ (X = Cl, Br, I) and GeCl₄ in Et₂O resulted in metallacyclic compounds with different structural moieties. In the [nacnac]SnX₃ compounds (X = Cl 2 , Br 3 , I 4 ) the tin atom is five coordinated and part of a six‐membered ring. The Sn–N‐bond length of 3 is 2.163(4) Å and 2.176(5) Å of 4 . The five coordinated germanium of the [nacnac]GeCl₃ compound 5 shows in addition to the three chlorine atoms further bonds to a carbon and to a nitrogen atom. In contrast to the known compounds with the [nacnac] ligand the afore mentioned reaction creates a carbon–metal‐bond (1.971(3) Å) forming a four‐membered ring. The Ge–N bond length (2.419(2) Å) indicates the formation of a weakly coordinating bond.     

A new series of dinuclear Au(I) complexes linked by diethynylpyridine groups

A series of novel digold complexes incorporating ethynyl pyridine derivatives as a spacer unit, [(R(3)P)Au(C[triple bond]C)X(C[triple bond]C)Au(PR(3))] (R = Ph, X = 2,5-pyridine (1); R = Cy (cyclohexane), X = 2,5-pyridine (2); R = Ph, X = 2,6-pyridine (3); R = Ph, X = 2,5'-bipyridine (4); R = Ph, X = 2,6'-bipyridine (5)), has been synthesised. All the complexes have been characterised spectroscopically and the structures determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The central (C[triple bond]C)(X)(C[triple bond]C) unit is essentially linear for complexes 1, 2 and 4 and kinked for complexes 3 and 5, but only in 1, with the shortest spacer group and the less bulky phosphine ligand, is there evidence of d(10)...d(10) Au...Au interactions (Au-Au 3.351(2) A). The solution UV/visible absorption and emission spectra for all the complexes are similar to those of the free ligands suggesting that the spectra are dominated by pi-pi* ligand-centred transitions and this is confirmed by DFT calculations.     

An enormous vibrational motion: the gas-phase structure of dimethyl-bis(methoxyethynyl) germanium

The structure of dimethyl-bis(methoxyethynyl) germanium has been determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction utilising flexible restraints from quantum chemical calculations. Theoretical methods (B3LYP/6-311+G* and MP2/6-311+G*) predict a low barrier to rotation of the methoxy groups in the molecule in addition to low-frequency vibrations of the long ethynyl chains. In the equilibrium structure the Ge-C[triple bond]C angles of the two methoxyethynyl fragments in the molecule are computed to deviate by up to 4 degrees from the linear arrangement. As a consequence of low-frequency large-amplitude vibrational motion the experimental structure of these fragments without applying vibrational corrections deviates considerably from linearity, while the structure corrected for vibrational effects using the harmonic approximation and taking into account a non-linear transformation between internal and Cartesian coordinates (r(h1)) shows closer agreement with theory. The main experimental structural parameters of dimethyl-bis(methoxyethynyl) germanium (r(h1)) are: r(Ge-C)(mean), 192.5(1) pm; DeltaGeC =r(Ge-C(methyl))-r(Ge-C(ethynyl)), 4.5(5) pm, r(C[triple bond]C)(mean), 122.8(2) pm; r(C-O)(mean), 138.9(3) pm; DeltaCO =r(C(methyl)-O)-r(C(ethynyl)-O), 14.5(2) pm, r(C-H)(mean), 109.1(4) pm; [angle](X-C-H)(mean)(X = Ge,O), 109(1) degree; [angle]C(ethynyl)-Ge-C(ethynyl), 108.1(4) degree; [angle]C(methyl)-Ge-C(methyl), 113.4(5) degree; [angle]Ge-C[triple bond]C, 163(1) degree; [angle]C[triple bond]C-O, 176(2) degree; [angle]C-O-C, 115.2(6) degree; methoxy group torsion, tau, 36(9) degree from the position in which the C-O bond eclipses the further Ge-C(ethynyl) bond.     

Aluminacyclopropene: syntheses, characterization, and reactivity toward terminal alkynes

Reactions of LAl with ethyne, mono- and disubstituted alkynes, and diyne to aluminacyclopropene LAl[eta2-C2(R1)(R2)] ((L = HC[(CMe)(NAr)]2, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3); R1 = R2 = H, (1); R1 = H, R2 = Ph, (2); R1 = R2 = Me, (3); R1 = SiMe3, R2 = C[triple bond]CSiMe3, (4)) are reported. Compounds 1 and 2 were obtained in equimolar quantities of the starting materials at low temperature. The amount of C2H2 was controlled by removing an excess of C2H2 in the range from -78 to -50 degrees C. Compound 4 can be alternatively prepared by the substitution reaction of LAl[eta2-C2(SiMe3)2] with Me3SiC[triple bond]CC[triple bond]CSiMe3 or by the reductive coupling reaction of LAlI2 with potassium in the presence of Me3SiC[triple bond]CC[triple bond]CSiMe3. The reaction of LAl with excess C2H2 and PhC[triple bond]CH (<1:2) afforded the respective alkenylalkynylaluminum compounds LAl(CH=CH2)(C[triple bond]CH) (5) and LAl(CH=CHPh)(C[triple bond]CPh) (6). The reaction of LAl(eta2-C2Ph2) with C2H2 and PhC[triple bond]CH yielded LAl(CPh=CHPh)(C[triple bond]CH) (7) and LAl(CPh=CHPh)(C[triple bond]CPh) (8), respectively. Rationally, the formation of 5 (or 6) may proceed through the corresponding precursor 1 (or 2). The theoretical studies based on DFT calculations show that an interaction between the Al(I) center and the C[triple bond]C unit needs almost no activation energy. Within the AlC2 ring the computational Al-C bond order of ca. 1 suggests an Al-C sigma bond and therefore less pi electron delocalization over the AlC2 ring. The computed Al-eta2-C2 bond dissociation energies (155-82.6 kJ/mol) indicate a remarkable reactivity of aluminacyclopropene species. Finally, the 1H NMR spectroscopy monitored reaction of LAl(eta2-C2Ph2) and PhC[triple bond]CH in toluene-d8 may reveal an acetylenic hydrogen migration process.     

Synthesis and characterization of cationic tungsten(V) methylidynes

Cationic tungsten(V) methylidynes [L4W(X)[triple bond]CH]+[B(C6F5)4]- [L = PMe3, 0.5dmpe (dmpe = Me2PCH2CH2PMe2), X = Cl, OSO2CF3] have been prepared in high yield by a one-electron oxidation of the neutral tungsten(IV) methylidynes L4W(X)[triple bond]CH with [Ph3C]+[B(C6F5)4]-. The ease and reversibility of the one-electron oxidation of L4W(X)[triple bond]CH were demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry in tetrahydrofuran (E1/2 is approximately -0.68 to -0.91 V vs Fc). The paramagnetic d1 (S = 1/2) complexes were characterized in solution by electron spin resonance (g = 2.023-2.048, quintets due to coupling to 31P) and NMR spectroscopy and Evans magnetic susceptibility measurements (mu = 2.0-2.1 muB). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction showed that the cationic methylidynes are structurally similar to the neutral precursor methylidynes. In addition, the neutral (PMe3)4W(Cl)[triple bond]CH was deprotonated with a strong base at the trimethylphosphine ligand to afford (PMe3)3(Me2PCH2)W[triple bond]CH, a tungsten(IV) methylidyne complex that features a (dimethylphosphino)methyl ligand.     

First successful reaction of a silyl anion with hafnium tetrachloride

Hafnium tetrachloride reacts with the tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl potassium tmen adduct (1) to form a [tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl]trichlorohafnium tmen complex (2); reaction of 2 with 2,6-dimethylphenylisonitrile leads to insertion into the silicon hafnium bond (4).