Addition of Isocyanides to Tetramesityldigermene: A Comparison of the Reactivity between Surface and Molecular Digermenes

The reaction of benzyl isocyanide, tert‐butyl isocyanide, and 2,6‐dimethylphenyl isocyanide with tetramesityldigermene (Mes₂Ge=GeMes₂) was examined. Whereas the addition of benzyl isocyanide gave the C?NC activation product, Mes₂Ge(CH₂Ph)Ge(CN)Mes₂, tert‐butyl isocyanide, and 2,6‐dimethylphenyl isocyanide did not give stable adducts, rather the rate of conversion of the digermene to the corresponding cyclotrigermane was accelerated. A comparison between the reactivity of the isocyanides with Mes₂Ge=GeMes₂ and the Ge(100)‐2×1 surface was made and some insights into the surface chemistry are offered.