Synthesis and Reactivity of Acyclic Germanimines: Silyl Rearrangement and Cycloadditions

We report the synthesis of aromatic germanimines [(HMDS)₂Ge═NAr] (Ar = Ph, Mes, Dipp; Mes = 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂, Dipp = 2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃) and an investigation into their associated reactivity. [(HMDS)₂Ge═NPh] decomposes above -30 °C, while [(HMDS)₂Ge═NDipp] engages in an intramolecular reaction at 60 °C. [(HMDS)₂Ge═NMes] was shown to rearrange via a 1,3-silyl migration to give [(HMDS){(SiMe₃)(Mes)N}Ge(NSiMe₃)] in a 1:7 equilibrium mixture at room temperature. These latter germanimines react with unsaturated polar substrates such as CO₂, ketones, and arylisocyanate via a [2 + 2] cycloaddition pathway.

Cycloaddition of carbonyl compounds and alkynes to (di)silenes and (di)germenes: reactivity and mechanism

The cycloaddition reactions of carbonyl compounds and alkynes to (di)tetrelenes appear to follow Woodward–Hoffman rules.

Addition of alkynes to digermynes: experimental insight into the reaction pathway

The reaction pathway for the addition of alkynes to digermynes has been investigated using a mechanistic probe approach.

Mechanism of the addition of alkynes to silenes and germenes: A density functional study

Density functional theory (DFT) and the coupled cluster method have been used to study the mechanism of the cycloaddition of acetylene to silene, H2Si=CH2, and germene, H2Ge=CH2, at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and CCSD/6-311++G(d,p) levels of theory. Diradical, zwitterionic, and concerted pathways were located for both metallenes. The computational results were compared to experimental data to propose the most likely reaction pathway for each metallene.