Organogermanium(II) Hydrides as a Source of Highly Soluble LiH |
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| Authors: | Jakub Tremmel Dr. Jiří Tydlitát Dr. Libor Dostál Prof. Aleš Růžička Xavier Deraet Dr. Jan Turek Prof. Roman Jambor |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Pardubice, 53210 Pardubice, Czech Republic;2. Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology, University of Pardubice, 53210 Pardubice, Czech Republic;3. Eenheid Algemene Chemie (ALGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium |
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| Abstract: | The reactions of monomeric C,N-chelated organogermanium(II) hydride L(H)Ge ⋅ BH3 with organolithium salts RLi yielded lithium hydrogermanatoborates (Li(THF)2{BH3[L(H)GeR]})2. Compound (Li(THF)2{BH3[L(H)GePh]})2 was used as a source of LiH for the reduction of organic C=O or C=N bonds in nonpolar solvents accompanied by the elimination of a neutral complex L(Ph)Ge ⋅ BH3. The interaction of (Li(THF)2{BH3[L(H)GePh]})2 with the polar C=O bond was further investigated by computational studies revealing a plausible geometry of a pre-reactive intermediate. The experimental and theoretical studies suggest that, although the Li atom of (Li(THF)2{BH3[L(H)GePh]})2 coordinates the C=O bond, the GeH fragment is the active species in the reduction reaction. Finally, benzaldehyde was reduced by a mixture of L(H)Ge ⋅ BH3 with PhLi in nonpolar solvents. |
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| Keywords: | density functional calculations germanium hydrides lithium reduction |
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