Synthesis and Characterization of the Monomeric Sterically Encumbered Diaryls E{C6H3‐2,6‐(C6H3‐2,6‐Pri2)2}2 (E = Ge,Sn, or Pb)

The reaction of two equivalents of LiC₆H₃‐2,6‐(C₆H₃‐2,6‐Prⁱ₂)₂ with GeCl₂·dioxane, SnCl₂ or PbBr₂ in a diethyl ether solution resulted in the isolation of the monomeric σ‐bonded diaryl tetrylene series E{C₆H₃‐2,6‐(C₆H₃‐2,6‐Prⁱ₂)₂}₂ (E = Ge ( 1 ), Sn ( 2 ), or Pb( 3 )). Compounds 1 ‐ 3 are highly sterically congested blue crystalline solids, which possess V‐shaped structures and wide interligand bond angles. The solid state structures of 1 ‐ 3 were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray methods while their solution structures were investigated by UV spectroscopy and in the cases of 2 and 3 , respectively, by ¹¹⁹Sn and ²⁰⁷Pb NMR spectroscopy. The series 1 ‐ 3 constitutes the most sterically crowded examples of σ‐bonded diorgano group 14 derivatives yet isolated and, in contrast to previously reported: ER₂ species, the C‐E‐C angles increase with increasing atomic number.