Bis(germavinylidene) [(Me3SiN=PPh2)2C=Ge→Ge=C(Ph2P=NSiMe3)] and 1,3-Dimetallacyclobutanes [M{μ2-C(Ph2P=NSiMe3)2}]2 (M=Sn, Pb)

Synthesis of Low-Valent Dinuclear Group 14 Compounds with Element-Element Bonds by Transylidation

Dinuclear low-valent compounds of the heavy main group elements are rare species owing to their intrinsic reactivity. However, they represent desirable target molecules due to their unusual bonding situations as well as applications in bond activations and materials synthesis. The isolation of such compounds usually requires the use of substituents that provide sufficient stability and synthetic access. Herein, we report on the use of strongly donating ylide-substituents to access low-valent dinuclear group 14 compounds. The ylides not only impart steric and electronic stabilization, but also allow facile synthesis via transfer of an ylide from tetrylene precursors of type R Y2 E to ECl2 (E=Ge, Sn; R Y=TolSO2 (PR3 )C with R=Ph, Cy). This method allowed the isolation of dinuclear complexes amongst a germanium analogue of a vinyl cation, [(Ph Y)2 GeGe(Ph Y)]+ with an electronic structure best described as a germylene-stabilized GeII cation and a ylide(chloro)digermene [Cy Y(Cl)GeGe(Cl)Cy Y] with an unusually unsymmetrical structure.

Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of a Stabilized Calcium Carbene: R2CCa

Attempted 2-fold deprotonation of the bis(iminophosphorano)methane ligand, H(2)C(Ph(2)P=NSiMe(3))(2) (4-H(2)), with a calcium amide led only to mono-deprotonation. The crystal structure of (4-H)(2)Ca shows two tridentate ligands with short Ca-N and a rather long Ca-C bond. Reaction of 4-H(2) with a dibenzylcalcium complex gave the desired 2-fold deprotonation and formation of 4-Ca, which crystallized as a dimeric complex. Analysis of the calculated atomic and group charges in 4-H(2), (4-H)(2)Ca, and [4-Ca](2) showed that the negative charge at the imine nitrogens only slightly increases upon successive deprotonation of 4-H(2). The electron density at the central carbon, however, increases considerably: the charge on the carbene carbon in [4-Ca](2) is ca. -1.8. The negative charge in 4(2)(-) is therefore mainly located on the carbon. Reaction of [4-Ca](2) with benzophenone in benzene gave the remarkably stable adduct [4-Ca](2) x O=CPh(2), which was characterized by X-ray diffraction. Reaction of [4-Ca](2) with adamantylcyanide gave exclusive formation of the adduct [4-Ca](2) x (N identical withCR)(2), which did not react further, even at higher temperatures. Addition of cyclohexyl isocyanate to a benzene solution of [4-Ca](2) gave immediate [2 + 2]-cycloaddition and formation of a dianionic tetradentate ligand that binds to Ca(2+) through two nitrogens, the central carbon, and an oxygen. This product crystallized as a dimer with bridging oxygen atoms.