Effects of substituents on the thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities of HCGeX (X = H, CH3, F, and Cl) isomers. A theoretical study

NHC-Supported 2-Sila and 2-Germavinylidenes: Synthesis, Dynamics, First Reactivity and Theoretical Studies

2-tetrelavinylidenes (C=EH2; E=Si, Ge) are according to quantum chemical studies the least stable isomers on the [E,C,2H] potential energy hypersurface isomerizing easily via the trans-bent tetrelaacetylenes HE≡CH to the thermodynamically most stable 1-tetrelavinylidenes (E=CH2). Consequently, experimental studies on 2-tetrelavinylidenes (C=ER2) and their derivatives are lacking. Herein we report experimental and theoretical studies of the first N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) supported 2-silavinylidene (NHC)C=SiBr(Tbb) (1-Si: NHC=C[N(Dipp)CH]2, Dipp=2,6-diisopropylphenyl, Tbb=2,6-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-4-tert-butylphenyl) and the isovalent 2-germavinylidenes (NHC)C=GeBr(R) (1-Ge, 1-GeMind: R=Tbb, Mind (1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7-octamethyl-s-hydrindacene-4-yl)). The NHC-supported 2-tetrelavinylidenes were obtained selectively from the 1,2-dibromoditetrelenes (E)-(R)BrE=EBr(R) using the diazoolefin (NHC)CN2 as vinylidene transfer reagent. 1-E (E=Si, Ge) have a planar vinylidene core, a bent-dicoordinated vinylidene carbon atom (CVNL), a very short E=CVNL bond and an almost orthogonal orientation of the NHC five-membered ring to the vinylidene core. Quantum chemical analysis of the electronic structures of 1-E suggest a significantly bent 1-tetrelaallene and tetrelyne character. NMR studies shed light into the dynamics of 1-E involving NHC-rotation around the CVNL-CNHC bond with a low activation barrier. Furthermore, the synthetic potential of 1-E is demonstrated by the synthesis and full characterization of the unprecedented NHC-supported bromogermynes BrGe=C(EBr2Tbb)(NHC) (2-SiGe: E=Si; 2-GeGe: E=Ge).

Synthesis and reactivity of a phosphine-stabilized monogermanium analogue of alkynes

The synthesis of the first isolable C-phosphino-Ge-aminogermyne, stabilized by a phosphine ligand, has been achieved. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates a quite long Ge-C bond whose length is between that of a single and a double bond but consistent with the theoretically predicted values for a germyne bearing π-donating substituents. The isomerization of this germyne derivative affords a new stable N-heterocyclic germylene through migration of the original phosphine ligand from germanium to the carbon center.