Insertion Reaction of Me3SiN3 with Bis(germylene).

ABSTRACT

Herein, we describe the redox reaction of bis(germylene) PhC(NtBu)2Ge-Ge(NtBu)2CPh with different equivalents of Me3SiN3 affording two distinct products. The reaction of Me3SiN3 with bis-germylene in a 11 molar ratio results in compound 1 at -78 °C; however, treatment of bis-germylene with a 2.1 equiv of Me3SiN3 at room temperature results in compound 2. The formation of 1 and 2 can be rationalized by two successive 3 + 1 cycloadditions of Me3SiN3 with the germanium center of bis(germylene) and N2 elimination. All of the compounds are well-characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and single-crystal X-ray structural analyses. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that compound 2 has a dicoordinated nitrogen atom, which is stabilized by hyperconjugative interactions, resulting in pseudo-germylimine moiety. However, the dicoordinated nitrogen atom shows high basicity as indicated by proton affinity values. These are rare examples of isolated products that show insertion as well as simultaneous redox properties of bis(germylene).