Open-Shell Complexes Containing Metal-Germanium Triple Bonds

Geometrically Constrained Cationic Low-Coordinate Tetrylenes: Highly Lewis Acidic σ-Donor Ligands in Catalytic Systems

A novel non‐innocent ligand class, namely cationic single‐centre ambiphiles, is reported in the phosphine‐functionalised cationic tetrylene Ni⁰ complexes, [^PhRDippENi(PPh₃)₃]⁺ (4 a/b (Ge) and 5 (Sn); ^PhRDipp={[Ph₂PCH₂SiR₂](Dipp)N}⁻; R=Ph, ⁱPr; Dipp=2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃). The inherent electronic nature of low‐coordinate tetryliumylidenes, combined with the geometrically constrained [N−E−Ni] bending angle enforced by the chelating phosphine arm in these complexes, leads to strongly electrophilic E^II centres which readily bind nucleophiles, reversibly in the case of NH₃. Further, the Ge^II centre in 4 a/b readily abstracts the fluoride ion from [SbF₆]⁻ to form the fluoro‐germylene complex ^PhRDippGe(F)Ni(PPh₃)₃9, despite this Ge^II centre simultaneously being a σ‐donating ligand towards Ni⁰. Alongside the observed catalytic ability of 4 and 5 in the hydrosilylation of alkynes and alkenes, this forms an exciting introduction to a multi‐talented ligand class in cationic single‐centre ambiphiles.

Synthesis and Hydrogenation of Heavy Homologues of Rhodium Carbynes: [(Me3 P)2 (Ph3 P)Rh≡E-Ar*] (E=Sn, Pb)

Tetrylidynes [(Me3 P)2 (Ph3 P)Rh≡SnAr*] (10) and [(Me3 P)2 (Ph3 P)Rh≡PbAr*] (11) are accessed for the first time via dehydrogenation of dihydrides [(Ph3 P)2 RhH2 SnAr*] (3) and [(Ph3 P)2 RhH2 PbAr*] (7) (Ar*=2,6-Trip2 C6 H3 , Trip=2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl), respectively. Tin dihydride 3 was either synthesized in reaction of the dihydridostannate [Ar*SnH2 ]- with [(Ph3 P)3 RhCl] or via reaction between hydrides [(Ph3 P)3 RhH] and 1 / 2  [(Ar*SnH)2 ]. Homologous lead hydride [(Ph3 P)2 RhH2 PbAr*] (7) was synthesized analogously from [(Ph3 P)3 RhH] and 1 / 2  [(Ar*PbH)2 ]. Abstraction of hydrogen from 3 and 7 supported by styrene and trimethylphosphine addition yields tetrylidynes 10 and 11. Stannylidyne 10 was also characterized by 119 Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. Hydrogenation of the triple bonds at room temperature with excess H2 gives the cis-dihydride [(Me3 P)2 (Ph3 P)RhH2 PbAr*] (12) and the tetrahydride [(Me3 P)2 (Ph3 P)RhH2 SnH2 Ar*] (14). Complex 14 eliminates spontaneously one equivalent of hydrogen at room temperature to give the dihydride [(Me3 P)2 (Ph3 P)RhH2 SnAr*] (13). Hydrogen addition and elimination at stannylene tin between complexes 13 and 14 is a reversible reaction at room temperature.

Triple bonds of niobium with silicon, germaniun and tin: the tetrylidyne complexes [(κ3-tmps)(CO)2Nb[triple bond, length as m-dash]E-R] (E = Si, Ge, Sn; tmps = MeSi(CH2PMe2)3; R = aryl)

A systematic, efficient approach to first complexes containing a triple bond between niobium and the elements silicon, germanium or tin is reported. The approach involves a metathetical exchange of the niobium-centered nucleophile (NMe4)[Nb(CO)4(κ2-tmps)] (1) (tmps = MeSi(CH2PMe2)3) with a suitable organotetrel(ii)halide. Compound 1 was obtained from (NMe4)[Nb(CO)6] and the triphosphane tmps by photodecarbonylation. Reaction of 1 with the disilene E-Tbb(Br)Si[double bond, length as m-dash]Si(Br)Tbb in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine afforded selectively the red-brown silylidyne complex [(κ3-tmps)(CO)2Nb[triple bond, length as m-dash]Si-Tbb] (2-Si, Tbb = 4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis(bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl)phenyl). Similarly, treatment of 1 with E(ArMes)Cl (E = Ge, Sn; ArMes = 2,6-mesitylphenyl) afforded after elimination of (NMe4)Cl and two CO ligands the deep magenta colored germylidyne complex [(κ3-tmps)(CO)2Nb[triple bond, length as m-dash]Ge-ArMes] (3-Ge), and the deep violet, light-sensitive stannylidyne complex [(κ3-tmps)(CO)2Nb[triple bond, length as m-dash]Sn-ArMes] (3-Sn), respectively. Formation of 3-Sn proceeds via the niobiastannylene [(κ3-tmps)(CO)3Nb-SnArMes] (4-Sn), which was detected by IR and NMR spectroscopy. The niobium tetrylidyne complexes 2-Si, 3-Ge and 3-Sn were fully characterized and their solid-state structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. All complexes feature an almost linear tetrel coordination and the shortest Nb-E bond lengths (d(Nb-Si) = 232.7(2) pm; d(Nb-Ge) = 235.79(4) pm; d(Nb-Sn) = 253.3(1) pm) reported to date. Reaction of 3-Ge with a large excess of H2O afforded upon cleavage of the Nb-Ge triple bond the hydridogermanediol Ge(ArMes)H(OH)2. Photodecarbonylation of [CpNb(CO)4] (Cp = η5-C5H5) in the presence of Ge(ArMes)Cl afforded the red-orange chlorogermylidene complex [Cp(CO)3Nb[double bond, length as m-dash]Ge(ArMes)Cl] (5-Ge). The molecular structure of 5-Ge features an upright conformation of the germylidene ligand, a trigonal-planar coordinated Ge atom, and a Nb-Ge double bond length of 251.78(6) pm, which lies in-between the Nb-Ge triple bond length of 3-Ge (235.79(4) pm) and a Nb-Ge single bond length (267.3 pm). Cyclic voltammetric studies of 2-Si, 3-Ge, and 3-Sn reveal several electron-transfer steps. One-electron oxidation and reduction of the germylidyne complex of 3-Ge in THF are electrochemically reversible suggesting that both the radical cation and radical anion of 3-Ge are accessible species in solution.