title: Preparation of stable low-oxidation-state group 14 element amidohydrides and hydride-mediated ring-expansion chemistry of N-heterocyclic carbenes.
abstract: Various low oxidation state (+2) group 14 element amidohydride adducts, IPr⋅EH(BH(3))NHDipp (E=Si or Ge; IPr=[(HCNDipp)(2)C:], Dipp=2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)), were synthesized. Thermolysis of the reported adducts was investigated as a potential route to Si- and Ge-based clusters; however, unexpected transmetallation chemistry occurred to yield the carbene-borane adduct, IPr⋅BH(2)NHDipp. When a solution of IPr⋅BH(2)NHDipp in toluene was heated to 100 °C, a rare C-N bond-activation/ring-expansion reaction involving the bound N-heterocyclic carbene donor (IPr) transpired.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: S M Ibrahim
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Al-Rafia
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rivard