title: Reactivity of Ar'GeGeAr' (Ar' = C6H3-2,6-Dipp2, Dipp = C6H3-2,6-iPr2) toward alkynes: isolation of a stable digermacyclobutadiene.
abstract: The first reactions of the "digermyne" Ar'GeGeAr' (1, Ar' = C6H3-2,6-Dipp2, Dipp = C6H3-2,6-iPr2) with alkynes are reported. 1 reacts with 1 equiv of H5C6CCC6H5 to afford the 1,2-digermacyclobutadiene 2 in high yield, while it reacts with 2 equiv of the less hindered alkyne Me3SiCCH to yield an unexpected bicyclic compound 3. Molecular structures of 2 and 3 were determined by X-ray crystallography. A possible mechanism for the formation of 3 is discussed. The high reactivity of 1, even at room temperature, emphasizes the fundamental differences between the GeGe and CC multiple bonds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of California at Davis, 95616 USA.
authors.forename: Chunming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Marilyn M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Olmstead
authors.forename: Philip P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Power