Transition-Metal Complexes of Heavier Cyclopropenes: Non-Dewar–Chatt–Duncanson Coordination and Facile Si═Ge Functionalization

Diverse Functionality of Molecular Germanium: Emerging Opportunities as Catalysts

Fundamental research on germanium as the central element in compounds for bond activation chemistry and catalysis has achieved significant feats over the last two decades. Designing strategies for small molecule activations and the ultimate catalysts established capitalize on the orbital modalities of germanium, apparently imitating the transition-metal frontier orbitals. There is a growing body of examples in contemporary research implicating the tunability of the frontier orbitals through avant-garde approaches such as geometric constrained empowered reactivity, bimetallic orbital complementarity, cooperative reactivity, etc. The goal of this Perspective is to provide readers with an overview of the emerging opportunities in the field of germanium-based catalysis by perceiving the underlying key principles. This will help to convert the discrete set of findings into a more systematic vision for catalyst designs. Critical exposition on the germanium's frontier orbitals participations evokes the key challenges involved in innovative catalyst designs, wherein viewpoints are provided. We close by addressing the forward-looking directions for germanium-based catalytic manifold development. We hope that this Perspective will be motivational for applied research on germanium as a constituent of pragmatic catalysts.

Heavier group 14-transition metal π-complex congeners

Since the dawn of organometallic chemistry, transition metal complexes of unsaturated organic molecules, namely π-complexes, have remained a central focus: our thorough understanding of the electronic nature of such species, and their importance in countless reactive processes continues to drive research in their synthesis and utilisation. Since the late 1900s, research regarding the related chemistry for the heavier group 14 elements has become increasingly more fervent. Today, heavier congeners of a vast array of classical π-complexes have been realised, from alkene to arene systems, involving Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb. This has given deeper insights into the bonding observed for these heavier elements, which typically involves a lessened degree of π-bonding and an increased polarisation. This review aims to summarise this field, identifying these disparities, and highlighting areas which we believe may be exciting for future exploration.

Synthesis and Reactivity of Aluminum Disilacyclopropenes. Cyclic AlSi2 Delocalized 2π Systems

The synthesis, structures, and reactivity of the first unsaturated AlSi2 three-membered ring systems were described. Reactions of dilithiodisilene [(NHB)LiSi═SiLi(NHB)] (1, NHB = diazaborolyl) with aluminum halides AlCl3, Ar(SiMe3)NAlCl2 (Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3), Cp*AlBr2 (Cp* = C5Me5), and TipAlBr2·Et2O (Tip = 2,4,6-iPr3C6H2) led to the formation of AlSi2 three-membered ring species, solvated (NHBSi)2AlCl(OEt2) (2) and solvent-free (NHBSi)2AlN(SiMe3) Ar (3), (NHBSi)2AlCp* (4), and (NHBSi)2AlTip (5), in good yields. X-ray diffraction studies and DFT calculations disclosed delocalized AlSi2 2π electron systems. Methanolysis of 4a resulted in cleavage of the Al-Si σ and Si-Si π bonds, giving trihydrodisilane (NHB)H(MeO)SiSiH2 (NHB) (6). Reaction of 4b with 4 equiv of N2O and H2C═CH2 resulted in the insertion of four oxygen atoms and four H2C═CH2 π bonds into all of the Al-Si and Si-Si bonds, yielding the O- and CH2CH2-bridged polycyclic species 7 and 8, demonstrating the synergistic reactivity of the Al-Si and Si-Si bonds in the AlSi2 ring system.

An Isolable Radical Anion Featuring a 2-Center-3-Electron π-Bond without a Clearly Defined σ-Bond

Featuring an extra electron in the π* antibonding orbital, species with a 2-center-3-electron (2c3e) π bond without an underlying σ bond are scarcely known. Herein, we report the synthesis, isolation and characterization of a radical anion salt [K(18-C-6)]+ {[(HCNDipp)2 Si]2 P2 }⋅- (i.e. [K(18-C-6)]+ 3⋅- ) (18-C-6=18-crown-6, Dipp=2,6-diisopropylphenyl), in which 3⋅- features a perfectly planar Si2 P2 four-membered ring. This species represents the first example of a Si- and P-containing analog of a bicyclo[1.1.0]butane radical anion. The unusual bonding motif of 3⋅- was thoroughly investigated via X-ray diffraction crystallography, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR), and calculations by density functional theory (DFT), which collectively unveiled the existence of a 2c3e π bond between the bridgehead P atoms and no clearly defined supporting P-P σ bond.

Energetically More Stable Singlet Cyclopentane-1,3-diyl Diradical with π-Single Bonding Character than the Corresponding σ-Single Bonded Compound

Carbon-carbon σ-single bonds are crucial for constructing molecules like ethane derivatives (R3C-CR3), which are composed of tetrahedral four-coordinate carbons. Molecular functions, such as light absorption or emission, originate from the π-bonds existing in ethylene derivatives (R2C═CR2). In this study, a relatively stable cyclopentane-1,3-diyl species with π-single bonding system (C-π-C) with planar four-coordinate carbons is constructed. This diradicaloid is energetically more stable than the corresponding σ-single bonding system. The π-electron single bonding system provides deeper insights into the chemical bonding and the physical properties derived from the small energy gaps between the bonding and antibonding molecular orbitals.

Impacts of Solvent and Alkyl Chain Length on the Lifetime of Singlet Cyclopentane-1,3-diyl Diradicaloids with π-Single Bonding

The singlet 2,2-dialkoxycyclopentane-1,3-diyl diradicaloids are not only the important key intermediates in the process of bond homolysis but are also attracting attention as π-single bonding compounds. In the present study, the effects of solvent viscosity η (0.24-125.4 mPa s) and polarity π* (-0.11 to 1.00 kcal mol^-1) on the reactivity of localized singlet diradicaloids were thoroughly investigated using 18 different solvents including binary mixed solvent systems containing ionic liquids. In low-η solvents (η < 1 mPa s), the lifetimes of singlet diradicaloids, which are determined by the rate constant for the isomerization of π-single-bonded singlet diradicaloids to the σ-bonded isomer, were substantially dependent on π*. Slower isomerization was observed in more polar solvents. In high-η solvents (η > 2 mPa s), the rate of isomerization was largely influenced by η in addition to π*. Slower isomerization was observed in more viscous solvents. Experimental results demonstrated the crucial roles of both solvent polarity and viscosity in the reactivity of singlet diradicaloids and thus clarified the characters of singlet diradicaloids and molecular motions during the chemical transformation. The dynamic solvent effect was further proved by a long alkyl chain introduced at a remote position of the reaction site.

Long-lived localised singlet diradicaloids with carbon-carbon π-single bonding (C-π-C)

Localised singlet cyclopentane-1,3-diyl diradicaloids have been considered promising candidates for constructing carbon-carbon π-single bonds (C-π-C). However, the high reactivity during formation of the σ-bond has limited a deeper investigation of its unique chemical properties. In this feature article, recent progress in kinetic stabilisation based on the "stretch effect" and the "solvent dynamic effect" induced by the macrocyclic system is summarised. Singlet diradicaloids S-DR4a/b and S-DR4d containing macrocyclic rings showed much longer lifetimes at 293 K (14 μs for S-DR4a and 156 μs for S-DR4b in benzene) compared to the parent singlet diradicaloid S-DR2 having no macrocyclic ring (209 ns in benzene). Furthermore, the dynamic solvent effect in viscous solvents was observed for the first time in intramolecular σ-bond formation, the lifetime of S-DR4d increased to 400 μs in the viscous solvent glycerin triacetin at 293 K. The experimental results proved the validity of the "stretch effect" and the "solvent dynamic effect" on the kinetic stabilisation of singlet cyclopentane-1,3-diyl diradicaloids, and provided a strategy for isolating the carbon-carbon π-single bonded species (C-π-C), and towards a deeper understanding of the nature of chemical bonding.

π-Conjugated species with an unsupported Si-Si π-bond obtained from direct π-extension

1,3-Diethynylbicyclo[1.1.0]tetrasilanes that contain an unsupported bridgehead Si-Si π-bond and ethynyl π-moieties were synthesized by the reaction of a 1,3-dihalobicyclo[1.1.0]tetrasilane with the corresponding lithium acetylide. The substantial bathochromic shift of the longest-wavelength absorption band observed for the phenylethynyl-substituted bicyclo[1.1.0]tetrasilane in the solid state compared to that of the octynyl-substituted derivative suggested the presence of effective π-conjugation between the unsupported Si-Si π and ethynyl π units.

Transition Metal Complexes of Heavier Vinylidenes: Allylic Coordination vs Vinylidene-Alkyne Rearrangement at Nickel

Transition metal π-allyl complexes are key reagents/intermediates of various catalytic and stoichiometric allylation reactions. We now report the first transition metal complex of a heavier allylic π-system. The η³-Si₂Ge allyl nickel complex is formally obtained by the oxidative addition of the Si-Cl bond of the heavier vinylidene [R₂(Cl)Si-(R)Si═(NHC)Ge:] to [Ni(COD)₂] (R = 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl; NHC = 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene; COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene). Due to geometric constraints, the coordination to the Ni(II) center occurs through the formal Si═Ge double bond instead of the residual lone pair of electrons at germanium. In contrast, the Si-N bond of the analogous vinylidene [R₂(Me₂N)Si-(R)Si═(NHC)Ge:] (obtained by nucleophilic substitution of Cl by NMe₂) does not oxidatively add to Ni(0), and a hydridosilagermene-η²-nickel complex is obtained instead. The formation of this complex necessarily implies the isomerization of the heavier vinylidene to the corresponding heteroalkyne with the Si≡Ge triple bond in the coordination sphere of nickel followed by the activation of a C-H bond of one of the isopropyl groups of an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand.