An N-heterocyclic silylene-stabilized digermanium(0) complex

• Main Authors: Shan, Yu-Liang, Yim, Wai-Leung, So, Cheuk-Wai
• Other Authors: School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Chemistry::Organic chemistry::Carbanions
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/103940; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/24629
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The synthesis of an N-heterocyclic silylene-stabilized digermanium(0) complex is described. The reaction of the amidinate-stabilized silicon(II) amide [LSiN(SiMe3)2] (1; L=PhC(NtBu)2) with GeCl2⋅dioxane in toluene afforded the SiII–GeII adduct [L{(Me3Si)2N}Si[RIGHTWARDS ARROW]GeCl2] (2). Reaction of the adduct with two equivalents of KC8 in toluene at room temperature afforded the N-heterocyclic carbene silylene-stabilized digermanium(0) complex [L{(Me3Si)2N}Si[RIGHTWARDS ARROW] Ge[DOUBLE BOND]Ge[LEFTWARDS ARROW]Si{N(SiMe3)2}L] (3). X-ray crystallography and theoretical studies show conclusively that the N-heterocyclic silylenes stabilize the singlet digermanium(0) moiety by a weak synergic donor–acceptor interaction.